Mothers of molested children: some comparisons of personality characteristics

The Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ) was used to study the personality characteristics of three groups of mothers: one whose children had been molested by a family member (n = 13), a second group whose children had been molested by a teacher (n = 15), and a group of control mothers whose children had not been molested (n = 12). There were few disparities between the two groups of mothers of molested children. When the molested groups were combined and compared to controls, they differed on only one scale measuring normal personality functioning. Significant differences between mothers of molested children and control mothers were found on 7 of the 12 scales measuring abnormal functioning. In addition, significant correlations were obtained between mother's scores and children's scores on the Adjustment scale of the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC). Results were discussed in terms of the lack of differences between the two molested groups, the role of mothers in sexual abuse, and the relationship of maternal clinical symptoms to child maladjustment.