title: Psychological Distress and Revictimization Risk in Youth Victims of Sexual Abuse.
abstract: Psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, has been associated with increased risk for sexual revictimization in youth who have experienced child sexual abuse. The present study utilized assessment information from treatment seeking youth with histories of sexual abuse to explore specific risk indicators for revictimization-risk taking, social problems, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress-that may be indicated by self-reported distress. The relationship between initial levels of distress and change in symptoms over a 12-week course of treatment was also explored. Participants were 101 youth referred to a child-focused therapeutic group for victims of sexual abuse, 65 youth referred to an adolescent-focused group, and their non-offending caregivers. Results revealed that when combined into a distress score, depression and anxiety were associated with delinquent behaviors, interpersonal difficulties, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress symptoms for child and adolescent group participants at presentation to treatment. Children exhibited improvement on measures of interpersonal difficulties, maladaptive cognitions, and self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Adolescents exhibited less change over time, with significant improvement on self-reported social problems and PTSD only. Higher psychological distress was associated with less improvement in regard to negative expectations of abuse impact for child group participants. The findings suggest that distress indicates the presence of specific revictimization risk indicators, helping to identify targetable symptoms for intervention. Therefore, screening for psychological distress after discovery of sexual abuse may help detect youth at higher risk for revictimization and guide treatment.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pittenger
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Alayna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schreier
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meidlinger
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pogue
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Theimer
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Fran
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000079225:Psychological Distress; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012919:Social Behavior; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: child abuse; revictimization; sexual abuse; treatment/intervention