Female adolescent response to childhood sexual abuse. 1997

B J Cornman
School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

OBJECTIVE History of childhood sexual abuse has been linked to fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, anger, hostility, poor self-esteem, substance abuse, and sexual maladjustment, as well as somatic complaints. The purpose of this study was to compare sexually abused adolescent females to adolescent females who have not ben sexually abused with respect to incidence of emotional disorders and somatic symptoms. METHODS A convenience sample of females, ages 12-17, included 11 identified victims of sexual abuse and 11 nonabused adolescents. A descriptive design using multiple methods of data collection: interview questions, self-report questionnaires, and projective drawings. RESULTS The sexually abused adolescents scored significantly higher than the adolescents who had no history of sexual abuse on specific sub scales (anxiety, muscle tension, cognitive disorganization) and on the total scale scores of both the SOS and the SCL-90. CONCLUSIONS Given the epidemic proportions of childhood sexual abuse, nurses in varied settings are in a position to identify, evaluate, and treat families with adolescents who manifest a wide range of sequelae.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007406 Interview, Psychological A directed conversation aimed at eliciting information for psychiatric diagnosis, evaluation, treatment planning, etc. The interview may be conducted by a social worker or psychologist. Interview, Psychologic,Interviews, Psychological,Psychological Interview,Psychological Interviews,Interviews, Psychologic,Psychologic Interview,Psychologic Interviews
D011385 Projection A defense mechanism, operating unconsciously, whereby that which is emotionally unacceptable in the self is rejected and attributed (projected) to others.
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002650 Child Abuse, Sexual Sexual maltreatment of the child or minor. Child Molestation,Child Molestation, Sexual,Molestation, Sexual, Child,Sexual Abuse of Child,Sexual Abuse, Child,Abuse, Child Sexual,Child Sexual Abuse,Molestation, Child,Sexual Child Abuse,Sexual Child Molestation
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000297 Psychology, Adolescent Field of psychology involving the study of normal and abnormal behavior of adolescents. It includes mental processes as well as observable responses. Adolescent Psychology
D001155 Art Therapy The use of art as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of neurological, mental, or behavioral disorders. Therapy, Art,Art Therapies,Therapies, Art
D013315 Stress, Psychological Stress wherein emotional factors predominate. Cumulative Stress, Psychological,Emotional Stress,Individual Stressors,Life Stress,Psychological Cumulative Stress,Psychological Stress Experience,Psychological Stress Overload,Psychologically Stressful Conditions,Stress Experience, Psychological,Stress Measurement, Psychological,Stress Overload, Psychological,Stress Processes, Psychological,Stress, Emotional,Stressful Conditions, Psychological,Psychological Stress,Stress, Psychologic,Stressor, Psychological,Condition, Psychological Stressful,Condition, Psychologically Stressful,Conditions, Psychologically Stressful,Cumulative Stresses, Psychological,Experience, Psychological Stress,Individual Stressor,Life Stresses,Measurement, Psychological Stress,Overload, Psychological Stress,Psychologic Stress,Psychological Cumulative Stresses,Psychological Stress Experiences,Psychological Stress Measurement,Psychological Stress Measurements,Psychological Stress Overloads,Psychological Stress Processe,Psychological Stress Processes,Psychological Stresses,Psychological Stressful Condition,Psychological Stressful Conditions,Psychological Stressor,Psychological Stressors,Psychologically Stressful Condition,Stress Experiences, Psychological,Stress Processe, Psychological,Stress, Life,Stress, Psychological Cumulative,Stressful Condition, Psychological,Stressful Condition, Psychologically,Stressor, Individual

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