Psychological symptoms in sexually abused girls.
This study examined psychological symptoms exhibited by children who had recently been sexually abused. Twenty-four girls aged 6 to 12 years old were evaluated within six months of being abused using a variety of standardized child psychiatric instruments. Results showed a marked discrepancy between child and parent reports of symptoms. The abused children did not exhibit significant depressive, anxiety, or low self-esteem symptoms by self-report; however, their parents rated them as having significantly more behavioral problems than a normative sample but as somewhat less pathological than a clinical sample. The implications of these findings in relation to our current understanding of the psychological problems manifested by sexually abused children and for future research are discussed.
Cohen
J A
JA
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Mannarino
A P
AP
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011902:Rape; D012649:Self Concept