Child sexual abuse--children and families referred to a treatment project and the effects of intervention.

Abstract

The characteristics of a series of 274 families who were referred to a sexual abuse treatment programme were analysed. Information was obtained on 411 abused children and 362 non-abused children. Different forms ofsexual abuse were noted, with 77% of girls and 23% of boys affected. Boys tended to be abused at a younger age, more severely, and for longer periods than girls. There was a predominance of lower social class groups among the parents, and a wide variety of family structures, with reasonable stability over time. Ninety six per cent ofperpetrators were men, and biological and step-parents predominated. Contributing factors in both the family history and the current perpetrators and their wives included sexual abuse, violence, chaotic families, marital problems, sexual difficulties, alcoholism, and subnormality.Follow up of 120 families, 180 victims, and 226 siblings showed that prosecution occurred in 60% ofcases, with a high percentage of perpetrators being imprisoned. Treatment was offered to 87% of families, but because the treatment programme was in the early stages of development a variable number of children and parents were offered family treatment or treatment in groups for parents and children separately. There was an improvement in the victim's circumstances in 61% of cases, and a noticeable

Treatment of traumagenic beliefs among sexually abused girls and their mothers: An evaluation study

“…Some followup studies of victims' functioning suggest that sexually abused children's behavioral and emotional problems significantly diminish with treatment (e.g., Bentovim, Boston, & Van Elburg, 1987;Gomes-Schwartz, Horowitz, Cardarelli, & Sauzier, 1990;. However, these studies were limited by the use of nonstandardized treatments and the absence of control groups.…”

Victim age, attractiveness and, abuse history as factors in the perception of a hypothetical child sexual abuse case

“…2 In one study, Swanston et al (2002) found that one in three of the sexually abused children in their sample had been subjected to further abuse or neglect. Similarly, Bentovim, Boston and Van Elburg (1987) found that 16% of CSA victims undergoing psychological treatment had suffered revictimization.…”

Sexual Assault in Childhood and Adolescence

“…(De Jong et al, 1982) Female dominancy of the victims is described in many descriptive researches which focused on child and adolescence sexual assault (Peipert&Domagalski, 1994;Jones et al;, Navratil, 2003. It was found 254 female (86%) and 40 male (14%) children in South Africa, 85.5% of the victims were female and 14.5% were male in Canada, 113 girls and 17 boys in Minessota, USA and 77% of girls and 23% of boys in England (Bentovim, 1987;Dubé& Hébert, 1988;Cox et al, 2007;Tilelli et al, 1980). Most often, sexual assault victims are assaulted by an acquaintance not stranger.…”