title: Effects of group therapy on female adolescent survivors of sexual abuse: a pilot study.
abstract: Treatment interventions for female sexual abuse survivors was explored through a pilot study examining the relationship between group treatment and adolescent self-image. Self-image was defined as body image, self-reliance, self-control, and impulse-control. An experimental pre-post design was utilized. Participants were 13 female adolescent high school drop-outs with a history of sexual abuse who participated in the National Guard Youth Challenge Program at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. Participants completed the Offer Self- Image Questionnaire for Adolescents. The hypothesis that group therapy was an effective intervention for sexual abuse survivors was not supported; however, this is likely due to the small sample size. Because this was a pilot study, mean trends were observed to see directional changes that may assist future researchers. Observation of mean trends revealed that participants who received group therapy increased in levels of impulse control while the group that did not receive group therapy remained the same. Mean trends also revealed that the experimental group had a decrease in self-reliance whereas the control group maintained their levels of self-reliance.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Box 5035, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thun
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001828:Body Image; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008922:Mississippi; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors