This study investigated depressive symptoms in rape victims for 1 year following their assaults. One hundred fifteen victims were seen approximately 2 weeks after the assault and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 months postrape. A matched control group of nonvictims was seen at the same intervals. To control for the effects of repeated testing, three additional groups of victims were assessed only once at 2, 4, or 8 months postrape. All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory and were administered the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression. Both the self-report measure and the interviewer-rated measure of depression showed similar results. Depressive symptoms were significantly higher in victims of rape than in nonvictim controls following the assault. By 4 months postrape, depressive symptoms in the victim group had diminished, and the victims were no longer significantly different from the nonvictim control group. Results from the single-testing victim groups indicated that repeated assessment affected the self-report measure somewhat but not the interviewer-rated measure. Variables reflecting prerape functioning were more predictive of continued problems with depressive symptoms than were demographic variables or variables associated with the rape and its aftermath.

Twenty-four mothers and their children served as subjects in a study of the behavioral and affective characteristics of mothers who physically abuse their children. Eight of the subjects were low-socioeconomic-status (SES) abusive mothers, 8 were matched low-SES control subjects, and 8 were matched middle-SES control subjects. The abusive mothers differed from both control groups on three measures of emotional and somatic distress (Beck Depression Inventory, Emotional Distress and Physical Symptoms scales of the Cornell Medical Index). Marginally significant differences were also found for a third measure of emotional distress (Trait Anxiety scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI). No significant differences were found between the two control groups on any of these measures. Although direct observations in the home revealed no significant difference among the three groups on any measure of child behavior, the abusive mothers engaged in a far higher percentage of negative physical behaviors and a lower percentage of positive behaviors toward their children than did either of the control groups. Some alternative explanations for the findings are discussed, and based on these results, a model of child abuse is tentatively proposed. The model suggests that parents who are in greater emotional and somatic distress may have a lower threshold for child misbehavior and may react more punitively to it.Three recent studies suggest that the par-found that abusive mothers engaged in less enting behavior of abusive mothers differs positive verbal and nonverbal behavior with significantly from that of nonabusive mothers, children but exhibited more verbal and non- Burgess and Conger (1978) observed families verbal aggression toward them. These data in their homes and found that abusive mothers are of potential significance to the model of interacted less often and in a less supportive maladaptive parenting offered by Patterson manner with their children but engaged in a (1982), which suggests that high rates of higher proportion of negative interactions aversive parent behaviors can lead to a recipthan nonabusive mothers. Reid, Taplin, and rocal acceleration of coercive interactions be-Loeber (1981) found that abusive mothers tween parents and children that increases the engaged in more negative interactions with risk of child abuse. Clearly more observational their children than did nonabusive mothers, data of this sort are needed, however, to test Similarly, Bousha and Twentyman (1984) this and alternative models of child abuse.A second promising line of research has provided evidence that suggests that maternal This research was supported by National Institute of depression is linked to inappropriate parent-Mental Health Grant MH35682 and by grants from the j Thege studies described c li n i ca lly de-

To examine long-term reactions to rape, 27 adult women who had been rape victims were interviewed and their current functioning assessed through a variety of written measures. Victims were significantly more depressed and reported less pleasure in daily activities than matched nonvictim controls. Women who had been victims of sudden violent attacks by complete strangers showed the most severe reactions, being even more depressed, fatigued, and fearful, and getting less satisfaction from activities than victims of other types of assaults.

The relationship between degree of resistance to sexual assault and a victim's demographic characteristics, her previous experience with violence, and situational characteristics of the assault were investigated. Victim responses during the assault were characterized as no resistance, verbal resistance, or physical resistance. Demographic characteristics and prior experience with violence did not discriminate degree of resistance. However, victim resistance was significantly predicted by six of the assault characteristics. Victims showed greater resistance if the assailant was a friend or relative, if the assailant made verbal threats, and if he physically restrained or injured her. Greater resistance was also associated with less sexual abuse.

This study investigated the social adjustment of rape victims for 1 year following their assaults. Ninety-three rape victims were seen approximately 2 weeks after the assault and at 1,2, 4, 8, and 12 months postrape. A matched control group of nonvictims was seen at the same intervals. To control for the effects of repeated testing, three additional groups of victims were assessed only once at either 2, 4, or 8 months postrape. All participants completed a social adjustment scale, which yielded a total adjustment score as well as subscale scores for five areas of adjustment: work; economic; social and leisure; marital, parental, and family unit; and extended family. Victims exhibited disruption in overall social adjustment and most of the subscale roles for the first few months following their assaults. By 4 months postrape, most of the subscales had stabilized at levels similar to the nonvictims'. Work adjustment continued to be affected through 8 months postrape. Single-testing control victims appeared to have more problems in social adjustment, particularly with regard to relationships with relatives.