Sexually and physically abused foster care children and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract

Considerable debate exists regarding the possible relationship between child abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, 3 groups of foster care children were compared. The groups included 50 sexually abused, 50 physically abused, and 50 nonabused foster care children. Participants completed the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index, the Childhood PTSD Interview, and the Modified Stroop Procedure (MSP), which included sexual abuse and nonsexual abuse stimuli. The MSP has not been previously used in child abuse research. Results indicated that sexually and physically abused children demonstrated PTSD at a high level. The MSP discriminated between the sexually abused children with PTSD and those without PTSD. Responses to the MSP sexual abuse stimuli resulted in significantly longer color-naming times than responses to nonsexual abuse stimuli. Preadolescents demonstrated more severe PTSD than early adolescent children.

Increasing Resource Parents’ Sensitivity towards Child Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: a Descriptive Study on a Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Training

“…In particular neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse are common reasons for placement in foster care (Oswald et al 2010). Mental health problems that frequently arise in maltreated children include behavioral and emotional disorders (Burns et al 2004), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Dubner and Motta 1999) and attachment disorder (Zeanah et al 2004), which may lead to problems in daily functioning in the foster family, at school and in relationships.…”

Teacher Education to Meet the Challenges Posed by Child Sexual Abuse

“…These consequences, which often continue through adulthood (Chen et al, 2010;Gilbert, Widom, et al, 2009;Horwitz, Spatz Widom, McLaughlin, & White, 2001;Spataro, Mullen, Burgess, Wells, & Moss, 2004;Widom, Marmorstein & White, 2006), extend beyond physical injury to psychological injury and effects on behaviour and socialisation. Immediate and initial consequences commonly include post-traumatic stress disorder (Boney-McCoy & Finkelhor, 1995;Dubner & Motta 1999;Trowell et al, 1999); depression and low self-esteem (Spataro et al, 2004;Swanston et al, 2003); and may include inappropriate sexualised behaviour (McClellan et al, 1996), and difficulty with peer relationships (Mannarino, Cohen, & Berman, 1994). Adolescents, generally better able to understand the nature of the acts, are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than younger children (Gidycz & Koss, 1989), and to engage in self-harming behaviour (Martin, Bergen, Richardson, Roeger, & Allison, 2004;Romans, Martin, Anderson, Herbison, & Mullen, 1995), suicidal ideation and behaviour (Dinwiddie et al, 2000;Martin et al, 2004;Molnar, Berkman, & Buka, 2001), criminal offending (Stewart, Livingston, & Dennison, 2008), alcohol abuse, substance abuse and running away from home (Dube et al, 2006;Simpson & Miller, 2002), and teenage pregnancy (Roberts, O'Connor, Dunn, Golding, & ALSPAC, 2004).…”

Trauma Symptomatology Among Female U.S. Navy Recruits

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Extensive evidence indicates that many adults have recurrent, identifiable, negative psychological symptoms that appear to have their etiology in childhood traumatic physical and/or sexual experiences. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Although the definition of childhood abuse varies between studies, studies of female activeduty personnel suggest that a high percentage of women have been victims of childhood abusive behavior. A survey of 1,887 female U.S. Navy recruits during their first week of basic training found that 57% had experienced some type of childhood abuse.…”

“…5 Victims of childhood abuse are at a higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 6,8,[10][11][12][13]16,[20][21][22][23][24] For example, a wellcontrolled study of 150 foster children, who were either physically, sexually, or nonabused, found that the sexually abused children had a significantly higher percentage of cases of PTSD than did the physically abused children and nonabused children. The physically abused children had a higher percentage of cases of PTSD than did the nonabused children.…”