Clinical correlates and repetition of self-harming behaviors among female adolescent victims of sexual abuse.

This study investigated self-harming behaviors in 149 female adolescent victims of sexual abuse, first, by determining the rates of nine types of self-mutilating behavior at intake and nine months later and, second, by investigating comorbidity of clinical correlates associated with these behaviors. The adolescents were divided into three groups according to level of self-mutilating behavior and then compared on symptom self-reports; 62.1% of the adolescents engaged in at least one self-mutilating behavior. A graded relation was observed between level of self-mutilating behavior and rate, and total number of clinical disorders. At nine month follow-up, one in four teenagers still reported a moderate or high level of self-harm. The need for systematic assessment and intervention of self-mutilating behaviors is discussed.

[Contextual factors associated with the symptoms of teenagers victims of intrafamilial sexual aggression]. / Facteurs contextuels associés aux symptômes d'adolescentes victimes d'agression sexuelle intrafamiliale.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify the unique contribution of three sets of contextual factors (maternal supports, family problems and characteristics of the sexual aggression) on adolescents' post-disclosure symptoms. All participants were abused by a family member. METHOD: A total of 71 adolescents girls were recruited from youth center services across Quebec. Psychological distress was evaluated with "Trauma Symptoms Checklist for Children" (TSC-C; Briere, 1989). Adolescents also completed self-report instruments and semi-structured interviews to evaluate contextual factors. RESULTS: Regression analyses indicated that general maternal support explain more variance in most of TSC-C symptoms than maternal response to disclosure. Analysis highlight that alcohol problems in family and various characteristics of sexual aggression explain a unique part of variance of several symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The discussion addresses the need to continue to explore these questions with more specific instruments to evaluate family problems. A large spectrum of symptoms should also be considered.

Predictors of maternal support: the point of view of adolescent victims of sexual abuse and their mothers.

Maternal support received by sexual abuse victims is considered a key factor in coping with the aftermath of abuse. The present study looked at four groups of potential predictors of maternal support: mothers' psychosocial characteristics, abuse characteristics, victim's characteristics, and disclosure characteristics. A total of 120 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years and their mothers, who were recruited from Child Protective Services, completed questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Multiple regression analyses performed separately on mother and child data sets revealed five significant predictors of maternal support in each analysis, four of which were common to both. The discussion underscores the importance of taking into account both the mother's and the victim's perceptions regarding psychological adjustment and family environment.