Enhancement of self-esteem among female adolescent incest victims: a controlled comparison.
A therapeutic intervention consisting of homogeneous group therapy and sexual education with same-sex therapist/clients was instituted with 15 female incest victims, compared to a matched control group; all the subjects had experienced intrafamilial incest and were court-placed in a Southern California resident facility. A series of behavioral markers and changes in self-esteem are reported by use of pre- and posttests of the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, behavioral observations by resident professionals, and checklists/daily behavior logs. The latter were evaluated for signs of further victimization of both groups. Findings show that female incest victims in the experimental group showed a significant increase in positive self-esteem as measured by the inventory, and developed a significantly increased knowledge of human sexuality, birth control, and venereal disease when compared to the control group.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012649:Self Concept; D012736:Sex Education