A comparison of Hispanic and African-American sexually abused girls and their families.
OBJECTIVE
To study the differential effects of sexual abuse on Hispanic (HN) and African-American (AA) girls.


METHODS
Sexually abused girls and their caretakers (N = 159), of which 52% (n = 82) were AA (mean age 9.8 years, SD = 3.4, R = 6-17) and 48% (n = 77) were HN (mean age 10.1 years, SD = 3.8, R = 6-18), were included in the study. The mother/caretaker was administered a demographic form, the Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Family Assessment Measure (FAM-P). The child completed the FAM-C and the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). The clinician completed the Parental Reaction to Incest Disclosure Scale (PRIDS).


RESULTS
HN girls were found to have a greater number of sexually abusive episodes and waited longer to disclose their abuse while AA girls were more likely to have experienced vaginal penetration. The perpetrators of HN girls were older and more likely to be fathers or stepfathers. The mothers/ caretakers of HN girls perceived their children as having significantly more aggressive behavior, anxiety/depression, somatic complaints, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, and had a higher total score on the CBCL than did AA girls. The HN girls were more likely to see their family as dysfunctional with confusion regarding family values and rules. HN mothers/caretakers perceived their families as more conflicted regarding adaptability and family controls.


CONCLUSIONS
HN girls experienced more emotional and behavioral problems, and both HN girls and their mothers/caretakers perceived their families as more disturbed and dysfunctional.
Shaw
J A
JA
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101, USA.
Lewis
J E
JE
Loeb
A
A
Rosado
J
J
Rodriguez
R A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology