title: Rorschach assessment of psychological functioning in sexually abused girls.
abstract: We measured psychological functioning in a group of 79 Black females between the ages of 5 and 16 and a comparison group of nonabused girls using the Rorschach. In addition to Exner's (1985) Comprehensive System, the Elizur (1949) Rorschach Content Test Scale (RCT), the Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MOA; Urist, 1977; Urist & Shill, 1982), and the Barrier and Penetration Scales (Fisher & Cleveland, 1968) were used. Sexually abused girls were found to show more disturbed thinking, to experience a higher level of stress relative to their adaptive abilities, to describe human relationships more negatively, and to show more preoccupation with sexuality than the comparison group. The distress experienced by the victimized children was more related to internal mediating variables then to abuse characteristics. Sexually abused girls who are cognitively and emotionally active also experienced high levels of distress compared to abused girls who are psychologically constricted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, La Rabida Childrens Hospital and Research Center, Chicago, IL 60649.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leifer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Martone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kassem
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012392:Rorschach Test; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology