Handbook of Child Abuse Research and Treatment pp 475-499 | Cite as
Sexual Abuse of Children
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) has been the focus of considerable attention among researchers, clinicians, the courts, and, recently, the news media. In many cases assessment and treatment techniques have been under close scrutiny and professionals have been challenged to demonstrate the effectiveness of their work. More than ever, research-based methods are needed. This chapter presents research on assessment and treatment of sexually abused children. First, the prevalence of child sexual abuse is discussed. Second, mental health consequences related to CSA are summarized. Third, clinical assessment of sexually abused children and their families is reviewed. Finally, treatment of sexually abused children and their families is examined.
Keywords
Sexual Abuse Abuse Child Child Sexual Abuse Mental Health Symptom Family TreatmentPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- Abel, G. G., Mittelman, M., Becker, J. V., Rathner, J., & Rouleau, J. L. (1988). Predicting child molesters’ response to treatment. In R. A. Prentky & V. L. Quinsey (Eds.), Annals of the New York Academy of Science(pp. 223–235). New York: New York Academy of Science.Google Scholar
- Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual of the Child Behavior Checklist and 1991 Profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
- Adams-Tucker, C. (1982). Proximate effects of sexual abuse in childhood: A report on 28 children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 139,1252–1256.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Alexander, P. C. (1985). A systems theory conceptualization of incest. Family Process, 24, 79–87.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Alexander, P. C., & Lupfer, S. L. (1987). Family characteristics and long-term consequences associated with sexual abuse. Archives of Sexual Behavior,16, 235–245.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- APSAC (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children). (1990). Guidelines for psychosocial evaluation of suspected sexual abuse in young children. Chicago: Author.Google Scholar
- Araji, S., & Finkelhor, D. (1986). Abusers: A review of the research. In D. Finkelhor (Ed.), A sourcebook on child sexual abuse(pp. 89–118). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Becker, J. V., & Hunter, J. A., Jr. (1992). Evaluation of treatment outcome for adult offenders of child sexual abuse. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 19, 74–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Beitchman, J. H., Zucker, K. J., Hood, J. E., daCosta, G. A., Akman, D., & Cassavia, E. (1992). A review of the long-term effects of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 15, 537–556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Berliner, L. (1987). Treating the effects of sexual abuse on children. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 415–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Berliner, L., & Wheeler, J. R. (1988). Treating the effects of sexual abuse on children, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2, 415–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Brickman, P., Rabinowitz, V. C, Karuza, J., Coates, D., Cohen, E., & Kidder, L. (1982). Models of helping and coping. American Psychologist, 37, 368–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Briere, J. (1989). Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
- Briere, J. (1995). Trauma Symptom Inventory professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.Google Scholar
- Briere, J., Elliott, D. M., Harris, K., & Cotman, A. (1995). Trauma Symptom Inventory: Psychometrics and association with childhood and adult victimization in clinical samples. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10, 387–401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (1988). Psychological symptoms in sexually abused girls. Child Abuse & Neglect, 12, 571–577.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (1996). A treatment outcome study for sexually abused preschool children: Initial findings. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 42–50.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Craske, M. G., & Barlow, D. H. (1990). Therapist’s guide for the mastery of your anxiety and panic (MAP) program. Albany, NY: Graywind.Google Scholar
- Dalenberg, C. J., & Jacobs, D. A. (1994). Attributional analyses of child sexual abuse episodes: Empirical and clinical issues. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 3, 37–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Deblinger, E. (1992). Child sexual abuse. In A. Freeman & F. M. Dattilio (Eds.), Comprehensive casebook of cognitive therapy(pp 159–167). New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
- Deblinger, E. (1995, January). Cognitive behavioral interventions for treating school age sexually abused children. Paper presented at the San Diego Conference on Responding to Child Maltreat-ment, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
- Deblinger, E., McLeer, S. V., & Henry, D. (1990). Cognitive behavioral treatment for sexually abused children suffering post-traumatic stress: Preliminary findings. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 747–752.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Derogatis, L. R. (1977). SCL-90: Administration, scoring, and procedure manual for the R(revised) version. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.Google Scholar
- Derogatis, L. R. (1983). The SCL-90-R: Administration, scoring, and procedures manual-II. Townson, MD: Clinical Psychometric Research.Google Scholar
- Everson, M. D., Hunter, W. M., Runyon, D. K., Edelsohn, G. A., & Coulter, M. L. (1989). Maternal support following disclosure of incest. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 59,197–206.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Eyberg, S. M., & Ross, A. W. (1978). Assessment of child behavior problems: The validation of a new inventory. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 7,113–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Finch, A. J., & Rogers, T. R. (1984). Self-report instruments. In T. H. Ollendick & M. Hersen (Eds.) Child behavior assessment: Principles and procedures. New York: Pergamon.Google Scholar
- Finch, A. J., Saylor, C. F., & Edwards G. E. (1985). Children’s Depression Inventory: Sex and grade norms for normal children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 424–425.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Finkelhor, D. (1984). Child sexual abuse: New theory and research. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
- Finkelhor, D., & Berliner, L. (1995). Research on the treatment of sexually abused children: A review and recommendations. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1408–1423.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Finkelhor, D., & Dziuba-Leatherman, J. (1994). Children as victims of violence: A national survey. Pediatrics, 94, 413–420.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Fish, V., & Faynik, C. (1989). Treatment of incest families with the father temporarily removed: A structural approach. Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies, 8, 53–63.Google Scholar
- Frederick, C. J. (1985). Children traumatized by catastrophic situations. In S. Eth & R. S. Pynoos (Eds.), Post-traumatic stress disorders in children(pp 73–99). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.Google Scholar
- Friedrich, W. N. (1995). Psychotherapy with sexually abused boys: An integrated approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
- Friedrich, W. N., Grambsch, P., Broughton, D., Kuiper, J., & Beilke, R. L. (1991). Normative sexual behavior in children. Pediatrics, 88, 456–464.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Friedrich, W. N., Grambsch, P., Damon, L., Hewitt, S., Koverola, C, Lang, R., Wolfe, V., & Broughton, D. (1992). The Child Sexual Behavior Inventory: Normative and clinical contrasts. Psychological Assessment, 4, 303–311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Furniss, T. H. (1987). An integrated treatment approach to child sexual abuse in the family. Children and Society, 2,123–135.Google Scholar
- Giarretto, H. (1982). A comprehensive child sexual abuse treatment program. Child Abuse St Neglect, 6, 263–278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Giarretto, H. (1989). Community-based treatment of the incest family. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 12, 351–361.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Giuli, C. A., & Hudson, W. W. (1977). Assessing parent-child relationship disorders in clinical practice: The child’s point of view. Journal of Social Service Research, 1, 77–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Hanson, R. F., Smith, D. W., Saunders, B. E., Swenson, C. C, & Conrad, L. (1995). Measurement in child abuse research: A survey of researchers. The APS AC Advisor, 8, 7–10.Google Scholar
- Harter, S., Alexander, P. C, & Neimeyer, R. A. (1988). Long-term effects of incestuous child abuse in college women: Social adjustment, social cognition, and family characteristics. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 5–8.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Hovestadt, A. J., Anderson, W. T., Piercy, F. P., Cochran, S. W, & Fine, M. (1985). A Family-of-Origin Scale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 11(3), 287–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Hudson, W. W., Wung, B., & Borges, M. (1980). Parent-child relationship disorders: The parent’s point of view. Journal of Social Service Research, 3, 283–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kahn, T. (1991). Pathways: A guided workbook for youth beginning treatment. Orwell, VT: Safer Society Press.Google Scholar
- Kelly, R. (1982). Behavioral reorientation of pedophiliacs: Can it be done? Clinical Psychology Review, 2, 387–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kendall, P. C. (1994). Treating anxiety disorders in children: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62,100–110.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kendall, P. C, & Braswell, L. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for impulsive children(2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
- Kendall-Tackett, K., Williams, L., & Finkelhor, D. (1993). Impact of sexual abuse on children: A review and synthesis of recent empirical studies. Psychological Bulletin, 113,164–180.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Kilpatrick, D. G., Edmunds, C. N., & Seymour, A. K. (1992). Rape in America: A report to the nation. National Victim Center.Google Scholar
- Kolko, D. J., & Swenson, C. C. (1996, January). Psychosocial evaluation and treatment of physically abused children. Workshop presented at the San Diego Conference on Responding to Child Maltreatment, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
- Kovacs, M. (1992). The Children’s Depression Inventory. North Tonawanda, NY: Multihealth Systems.Google Scholar
- Lang, P. J. (1979). A bio-informational theory of emotional imagery. Psychophysiology, 16, 495–511.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Lang, R., Pugh, G., & Langevin, R. (1988). Treatment of incest and pedophilic offenders: A pilot study. Behavioral Sciences and the Law; 6, 239–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Lanktree, C. B., Briere, J., & Hernandez, P. (1991, August). Further data on the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSC-C): Reliability; validity and sensitivity to treatment. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco.Google Scholar
- Letourneau, E. J., & Saunders, B. E. (1996). Measurement and assessment tools: New section—introduction. The APS AC Advisor, 9, 8–10.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A. (1991). Posttraumatic stress disorder in children. Family Community Health,14,42–51.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., & Elliott, A. N. (1993). Individual treatment of the sexually abused child. The APSAC Advisor, 6,1–18.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., & Hanson, R. F. (1992a, October). Multiple traumas in the histories of child/adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., & Hanson, R. F. (1992b, November). Traumatic event histories of child adolescent psychiatric inpatients: What is being done to our children? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., Hanson, R. F., & Hand, L. (1993, January). Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and witnessing violence in child/adolescent psychiatric inpatients: Relationship to psychopathology. Paper presented at the San Diego Conference on Responding to Child Maltreatment, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., & Saunders, B. E. (1989, November). Characteristics of incest families and victim emotional responses. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Criminology Society, Reno, NV.Google Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., Saunders, B. E., & Hanson, R. F. (1992). Parent-child relationships of victims and siblings in incest families. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 1, 35–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Lipovsky, J. A., Saunders, B. E., & Murphy, S. M. (1989). Depression, anxiety, and behavior problems among victims of father-child sexual assault and nonabused siblings. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 4, 452–468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Lutzker, J. R., Bigelow, K. M., Swenson, C. C, Doctor, R. M., & Kessler, M. L. (in press). Problems related to child abuse and neglect. In S. Netherton, D. Holmes, & C. E. Walker (Eds.), Comprehensive textbook of child and adolescent disorders: A guide to DSM-IV. Google Scholar
- Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., & Berman, S. R. (1994). Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 23, 204–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., Smith, J. A., & Moore-Motily, S. (1991). Six- and twelve-month follow-up of sexually abused girls. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6,494–511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Marshall, W. L., & Barbaree, H. E. (1988). The long-term evaluation of a behavioral treatment program for child molesters. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 26, 499–511.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- McCurdy, K., & Daro, D. (1994). Child maltreatment: A national survey of reports and fatalities. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 9, 75–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Meinig, M. B., & Bonner, B. L. (1990). Returning the treated sex offender to the family. Violence Update, 1,1–11.Google Scholar
- Moos, R. H., & Moos, B. S. (1981). Family Environment Scale Manual. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.Google Scholar
- Moos, R. H., & Moos, B. S. (1983). Adaptation and the quality of life in work and family settings. Journal of Community Psychology, 11,158–170.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Moos, R. H., & Moos, B. S. (1990). Conceptual and empirical approaches to developing family-based assessment procedures: Resolving the case of the Family Environment Scale. Family Process, 29, 199–208.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- O’Donohue, W. T., & Elliott, A. N. (1992). Treatment of the sexually abused child: A review. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 218–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Ollendick, T. H., & Cerny, J. A. (1981). Clinical behavior therapy with children. New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
- Parker, H., & Parker, S. (1986). Father-daughter sexual abuse: An emerging perspective. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 56, 531–549.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Piers, E. V. (1984). Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale. Revised Manual, 1984. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.Google Scholar
- Reynolds, C. R., & Paget, K. D. (1981). Factor analysis of the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale for blacks, whites, males and females. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 352–359.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Reynolds, C. R., & Richmond, B. O. (1978). “What I Think and Feel”: A revised measure of children’s manifest anxiety. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6, 271–280.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Ribbe, D. P., Lipovsky, J. A., & Freedy, J. R. (1995). Posttraumatic stress disorder. In A. R. Eisen, C. A. Kaemey, & C. E. Schaeffer (Eds.), Clinical Handbook of Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents(pp. 317–356). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.Google Scholar
- Ribordy, S. C. (1990). Treating intrafamilial child sexual abuse from a systemic perspective. Journal of Psychotherapy and the Family, 6, 71–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Rice, M. E., Quinsey, V. L., & Harris, G. T. (1991). Sexual recidivism among child molesters released from a maximum security psychiatric institution. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 381–386.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Saunders, B. E., McClure, S. M., & Murphy, S. M. (1986). Profile of incest offenders indicating treatability—Part I: Final report submitted to the U. S. Department of the Navy. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
- Saunders, B. E., McClure, S. M., & Murphy, S. M. (1987, July). Structure, function, and symptoms in father-daughter sexual abuse families: A multilevel-multirespondent empirical assessment. Paper presented at the Family Violence Research Conference, Durham, NH.Google Scholar
- Saunders, B. E., & Schuchts, R. A. (1987). Assessing parent-child relationships: A report of normative scores and revalidation of two clinical scales. Family Process, 26, 373–381.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Saylor, C. F., Swenson, C. C, Stokes, S. J., Wertlieb, D., & Casto, Y. (1994, August). The Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale: A brief new screening measure. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
- Sgroi, S. M. (1982). Handbook of clinical intervention in child sexual abuse. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
- Shapiro, J. P. (1989). Self-blame versus helplessness in sexually abused children: An attributional analysis with treatment recommendations. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8, 442–455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Silovsky, J. F., & Hembree-Kigin, T. L. (1994). Family and group treatment for sexually abused children: A review. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 3,1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Smiljanich, K., & Briere, J. (1993, August). Sexual abuse history and trauma symptoms in a university sample. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Google Scholar
- Sorenson, T., & Snow, B. (1991). How children tell: The process of disclosure in child sexual abuse. Child Welfare League of America, 70, 3–15.Google Scholar
- Spielberger, C. C. (1973). Preliminary manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (“How I Feel Questionnaire”). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.Google Scholar
- Stauffer, L. B., & Deblinger, E. (1996). Cognitive behavioral groups for nonoffending mothers and their young sexually abused children: A preliminary treatment outcome study. Child Maltreatment, 1, 65–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Swenson, C. C. (1996, February). Group treatment for physically abused children. Workshop presented at the second annual Colloquium of the South Carolina Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Charleston, SC.Google Scholar
- Swenson, C. C, Saylor, C. F., Stokes, S., Ralston, M. E., Smith, D. E., Hanson, R. F., & Saunders, B. E. (1994, January). Anxiety and fear in traumatized children: The validity of a new brief screening instrument. Paper presented at the San Diego Conference on Responding to Child Maltreatment, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
- Tong, L., Oakes, K., & McDowell, M. (1987). Personality development following sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect,11, 371–383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, D. (1990). The characteristics of incestuous fathers: A review of recent studies. In W. L. Marshall, D. R. Laws, & H. E. Barbaree (Eds.). Handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender(pp. 231–255). New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
- Wolfe, D., Sas, L., & Wekerle, C. (1994). Factors associated with the development of posttraumatic stress disorder among child victims of sexual assault. Child Abuse & Neglect, 18, 37–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Wolfe, V. V., & Gentile, C. (1992). Psychological assessment of sexually abused children. In W. T. O’Donohue and J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Theory, research, and therapy (pp. 143–187). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
- Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., Michienczi, T., Sas, L, & Wolfe, D. A. (1991). The Children’s Impact of Traumatic Events Scale: A measure of post-sexual abuse PTSD symptoms. Behavioral Assessment, 13, 358–383.Google Scholar
- Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., & Wolfe, D. A., (1989). The impact of sexual abuse on children: A PTSD formulation. Behavior Therapy, 20, 215–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar