Trauma symptoms in a diverse population of sexually abused children

The role of ethnicity, age, and gender in studies of sexually abused children has been overlooked. Yet, studies have found that African American and Latino sexually abused children suffer from more severe symptoms at treatment presentation and longer lasting effects than Caucasian children. Furthermore, evidence suggests that age and gender impact symptoms resulting from sexual abuse. This study focused on examining demographic differences in trauma symptoms and posttreatment data in an urban, ethnically diverse population of sexually abused children.

The sample was selected from archival data of 176 children who ranged from the ages of 8 to 16. Therapists administered the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC) at pretreatment and posttreatment.

Symptom scores were significantly lower for 41 children who completed 3 months of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) on all TSCC scales except Sexual Concerns, Dissociation, and Overt Dissociation. For the entire sample, mean symptom scores for Sexual Preoccupation were significantly higher for African American children compared to Latino and Caucasian children. Older children had significantly higher scores on scales for Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Posttraumatic Stress, Dissociation, and Sexual Distress. Sexual Distress scale scores were significantly higher among females.

Findings indicate that trauma symptoms significantly improved after 3 months of TF-CBT. Trauma symptoms differed for children by ethnic group, age, and gender. Identifying factors that impact symptomatology is critical to providing effective, culturally competent treatment for ethnic minority children who are child sexual abuse victims. (PsycINFO Database Record