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Behavior Problems in Sexually Abused Young Children
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1986
Year
Child Sexual Abuse PreventionChild Behavior ChecklistSocial SciencesPsychologySexual OffendingSexual And Reproductive HealthBehavior ProblemsHealth SciencesBehavioral SciencesSexual ViolenceChild AbuseSexual BehaviorChild DevelopmentSexual AssaultSexual AbusePediatricsGroomingChild Sexual AbuseChild Abuse PreventionAggressionPrevious 24
The study assessed 85 sexually abused children aged 3–12 using the Child Behavior Checklist and collected data on the nature of the abuse. CBCL results showed the abused children exhibited higher overall deviance, with internalizing problems linked to abuse frequency, child sex, perpetrator relationship, and severity; externalizing problems associated with abuse duration, perpetrator relationship, time since abuse, and child sex; and sexual behaviors correlated with abuse frequency and number of perpetrators.
A sample of 85 children, ages 3 to 12, and sexually abused within the previous 24 months, were evaluated with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL, Achen-bach & Edelbrock, 1983). Data relating to the nature of the abuse were also collected. This sample was clearly more deviant behaviorally as measured by the CBCL. Internalizing behavior was related to the frequency of abuse, the sex of the child, the relationship of the perpetrator to the child, and the severity of abuse. Externalizing behavior was related to the duration, perpetrator's relationship, time elapsed, and sex of the child. Sexual behavior in this sample was related to frequency of abuse and number of perpetrators.