Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two short-term individual therapy interventions for sexually abused girls and their nonoffending female caretakers. Thirty-two girls, ages 8 to 13, and their caretakers from primarily low-income, African-American families were randomly assigned to a theoretically based, structured experimental treatment program or to a relatively unstructured comparison intervention. Measures of child outcome were completed before and after the treatment program by each parent and child, and by a clinician blind to treatment condition. Pre- and postmeasures of maternal outcome were completed by the caretaker and a clinician not involved in the treatment. Both treatment programs yielded decreases in children's posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and traumagenic beliefs reflecting self-blame and powerlessness, and increases in children's overall psychosocial functioning. The experimental intervention was more effective than the comparison program in increasing abuse-related caretaker support of the child and in decreasing caretaker self-blame and expectations of undue negative impact of the abuse on the child. Clinical impfications of these findings include the development of interventions targeting sexually abused children's traumagenic beliefs and nonoffending parents' support of their victimized children.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M. (1991),Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
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, 16 101–118.
Bentovim, A., Boston, P., & Van Elburg, A. (1987). Child sexual abuse: Children and families referred to a treatment project and the effects of intervention.British Medical Journal, 295 1453–1457.
Briere, J., & Runtz, M. (1987). Post sexual abuse trauma: Data and implications for clinical practice.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2 367–379.
Browne, A., & Finkelhor, D. (1986) Impact of child sexual abuse: A review of the research.Psychological Bulletin, 99 66–77.
Casey, R. J., & Berman, J. S. (1985). The outcome of psychotherapy with children.Psychological Bulletin, 98 388–400.
Celano, M., Hazzard, A., Simmons, M., & Webb, C. (1991).Recovering from Abuse Project. Atlanta: Authors. (Available from Ann Hazzard, Box 26065, Grady Memorial Hospital, 80 Butler Street, Atlanta, GA 30335.)
Celano, M., Webb, C., & Hazzard, A. (1992, May).Parental attributions of responsibility for child sexual abuse. Paper presented at the National Symposium on Child Victimization, Washington, DC.
Conte, J. R. (1985). The effects of sexual abuse on children: A critique and suggestions for research.Victimology: An International Journal, 10 110–130.
Conte, J. R., & Schuerman, J. R. (1987). Factors associated with an increased impact of child sexual abuse.Child Abuse & Neglect, 11 201–211.
Deblinger, E., McLeer, S. V., & Henry, D. (1990). Cognitive behavioral treatment for sexually abused children suffering posttraumatic stress: Preliminary findings.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29 747–752.
Downing, J., Jenkins, S. J., & Fisher, G. L. (1988). A comparison of psychodynamic and reinforcement treatment with sexually abused children.Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 22 291–298.
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, 59 197–207.
Finkelhor, D., & Browne, A. (1985). The traumatic impact of child sexual abuse: A conceptualization.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 55 530–541.
Friedrich, W. N. (1990).Psychotherapy of sexually abused children and their families. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Gold, E. R. (1986). Long-term effects of sexual victimization in childhood: An attributional approach.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54 471–475.
Gomes-Schwartz, B., Horowitz, J. M., Cardarelli, A. P., & Sauzier, M. (1990). The aftermath of child sexual abuse: 18 months later. In B. Gomes-Schwartz, J. M. Horowitz, & A. P. Cardarelli,Child sexual abuse: The initial effects (pp. 132–152). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Lanktree, C. B., & Briere, J. (1992, May).Therapy (seems to) work: Early results from a sexual abuse treatment outcome study. Paper presented at the National Symposium on Child Victimization, Washington, DC.
Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., Smith, J. A., & Moore-Motily, S. (1991). Six and twelve month followup of sexually abused girls.Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6 494–511.
Newberger, C., & Gremy, I. (1993).The role of interventions in children's recovery from sexual abuse. Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, New Orleans.
Newberger, C., & Gremy, I. M., Waternaux, C. M., & Newberger, E. H. (1993). Mothers of sexually abused children: Trauma and repair in longitudinal perspective.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 63 92–102.
O'Donohue, W. T., & Elliott, A. N. (1992). Treatment of the sexually abused child: A review.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21 218–228.
Regehr, C. (1990). Parental responses to extrafamilial child sexual assault.Child Abuse & Neglect, 14 113–120.
Shaffer, D., Gould, M. S., Brasic, J., Ambrosini, P., Fisher, P., Bird, H., & Aluwahila, S. (1983). A Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS).Archives of General Psychiatry, 40 1228–1231.
Stein, J. A., Golding, J. M., Siegel, J. M., Burnam, M. A., & Sorenson, S. B. (1988). Long-term psychological sequelae of child sexual abuse: The Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. In G. E. Wyatt & G. J. Powell (Eds.),Lasting effects of child sexual abuse (pp. 135–154). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Wagner, W. G. (1991). Depression in mothers of sexually abused vs. mothers of nonabused children.Child Abuse & Neglect, 15 99–104.
Winton, M. H. (1990). An evaluation of a support group for parents who have a sexually abused child.Child Abuse & Neglect, 14 397–405.
Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., Michienzi, T., Sas, L., & Wolfe, D. (1991). The Children's Impact of Traumatic Events Scale: A measure of post-sexual abuse PTSD symptoms.Behavioral Assessment, 13 359–383.
Wolfe, V. V., Gentile, C., & Wolfe, D. A. (1989). The impact of sexual abuse on children: A PTSD formulation.Behavior Therapy, 20 215–228.
Wyatt, G. E. (1990). Sexual abuse of ethnic minority children: Identifying dimensions of victimization.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 21 338–343.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Celano, M., Hazzard, A., Webb, C. et al. Treatment of traumagenic beliefs among sexually abused girls and their mothers: An evaluation study. J Abnorm Child Psychol 24, 1–17 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01448370
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01448370