NCJ Number
173868
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: April 1998 Pages: 240-260
Date Published
1998
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Data were obtained from a sample of 154 participants to analyze factors mitigating negative effects of sexual abuse and the role of social support in explaining variations in child and adolescent psychological distress at the time of sexual abuse discovery.
Abstract
The sample was comprised of 87 children between 8 and 11 years of age (63 girls and 24 boys) and 67 adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age (53 girls and 14 boys). Participants were recruited through child protective services and child sexual abuse medical clinics. They were assessed within 8 weeks of sexual abuse discovery and before receiving any treatment in terms of abuse characteristics, social support, attribution, shame, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and impact of abuse events. Findings showed adolescents, compared to children, were less likely to feel supported by parents and other adult relatives but were more likely to view friends as support resources. As expected, support from a parent was related to less psychological distress, while the use of primarily friends for support was related to increased adjustment difficulties. The authors conclude developmental period and source of support are important factors to consider in understanding how social support functions as a protective factor. 65 references, 5 notes, and 3 tables