Positive and negative effects of a child sexual abuse prevention program

This study evaluated a sexual abuse prevention program for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders ranging from 8 to 12 years of age. Six questionnaires concerning feelings of control, choice of protection strategy, perceived feasibility of refusing to cooperate with the intruder, appreciation of touch, school relationships, and social anxiety were used. Subjects were 161 children who participated in the program and a control group of 131 children. Results indicated short term overall effects of the program for the choice of safety strategies. Immediately after participation in the program the youngest and the oldest children felt less in control of an abusive interaction, the youngest pupils thought that refusal was less feasible but they appreciated physical touch more than before. These effects, however, were only of a short duration. In the long run children thought refusing more feasible and younger children showed less social anxiousness. As an unwanted side effect of the program the oldest children developed feelings of discomfort about being touched. Relationships with classmates and the teacher were not influenced by the intervention. It is suggested that the behavioral and attitudinal effects of the program could be ameliorated by extending the number or duration of the lessons.