title: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Suicidal Ideation Among Sexually Abused Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Shame.
abstract: Sexual abuse is associated with a host of negative repercussions in adolescence. Yet the possible mechanisms linking sexual abuse and negative outcomes are understudied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among self-blame, shame, coping strategies, posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. The sample included 147 sexually abused adolescent girls between 14 and 18 years of age. A total of 66% of girls reached clinical score for posttraumatic stress disorder, and 53% reached clinical score for depressive symptoms. Close to half (46%) reported suicidal thoughts in the past 3 months. Shame was found to partially mediate the relationship between self-blame and posttraumatic stress disorder. Shame and depressive symptoms were also found to partially mediate the relationship between self-blame and suicidal ideation. Results suggest that shame is a crucial target in interventions designed for sexually abused adolescent girls.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Université du Québec à Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alix
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Université du Québec à Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cossette
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sexology , Université du Québec à Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hébert
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cyr
authors.affiliation: d Pediatric Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine , Université de Montréal , Montréal , Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Frappier
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012752:Shame; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation
keywords: attributions; child sexual abuse; coping strategies; depression; self-blame; stigma