Psychological Distress and Revictimization Risk in Youth Victims of Sexual Abuse

Psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, has been associated with increased risk for sexual revictimization in youth who have experienced child sexual abuse. The present study utilized assessment information from treatment seeking youth with histories of sexual abuse to explore specific risk indicators for revictimization—risk taking, social problems, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress—that may be indicated by self-reported distress. The relationship between initial levels of distress and change in symptoms over a 12-week course of treatment was also explored. Participants were 101 youth referred to a child-focused therapeutic group for victims of sexual abuse, 65 youth referred to an adolescent-focused group, and their non-offending caregivers. Results revealed that when combined into a distress score, depression and anxiety were associated with delinquent behaviors, interpersonal difficulties, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress symptoms for child and adolescent group participants at presentation to treatment. Children exhibited improvement on measures of interpersonal difficulties, maladaptive cognitions, and self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Adolescents exhibited less change over time, with significant improvement on self-reported social problems and PTSD only. Higher psychological distress was associated with less improvement in regard to negative expectations of abuse impact for child group participants. The findings suggest that distress indicates the presence of specific revictimization risk indicators, helping to identify targetable symptoms for intervention. Therefore, screening for psychological distress after discovery of sexual abuse may help detect youth at higher risk for revictimization and guide treatment

Psychological Distress and Revictimization Risk in Youth Victims of Sexual Abuse

Psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, has been associated with increased risk for sexual revictimization in youth who have experienced child sexual abuse. The present study utilized assessment information from treatment seeking youth with histories of sexual abuse to explore specific risk indicators for revictimization—risk taking, social problems, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress—that may be indicated by self-reported distress. The relationship between initial levels of distress and change in symptoms over a 12-week course of treatment was also explored. Participants were 101 youth referred to a child-focused therapeutic group for victims of sexual abuse, 65 youth referred to an adolescent-focused group, and their non-offending caregivers. Results revealed that when combined into a distress score, depression and anxiety were associated with delinquent behaviors, interpersonal difficulties, maladaptive cognitions, and posttraumatic stress symptoms for child and adolescent group participants at presentation to treatment. Children exhibited improvement on measures of interpersonal difficulties, maladaptive cognitions, and self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Adolescents exhibited less change over time, with significant improvement on self-reported social problems and PTSD only. Higher psychological distress was associated with less improvement in regard to negative expectations of abuse impact for child group participants. The findings suggest that distress indicates the presence of specific revictimization risk indicators, helping to identify targetable symptoms for intervention. Therefore, screening for psychological distress after discovery of sexual abuse may help detect youth at higher risk for revictimization and guide treatment

Identifying and addressing barriers to treatment for child sexual abuse survivors and their non-offending caregivers

Mental health treatment is a critical part of an effective and compassionate response to the disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA). Given the vast negative consequences for children and families following CSA, engagement in treatment can benefit youth and their non-offending caregivers. Yet, these families face unique barriers to treatment initiation, adherence, and effectiveness. The identification of these barriers allows clinicians, researchers, and policy makers to increase treatment utilization, engagement, and value. The current review and its recommendations derive from the existing literature combined with knowledge gained from a clinical research team with more than 20 years of experience offering a treatment program for CSA survivors and their non-offending family members. The review organizes barriers around factors related to individual characteristics of children and caregivers, perceptions and beliefs commonly held following CSA, and challenging family interactions in the context of individual and group treatment for CSA. Finally, barriers related to systemic and societal factors are examined given the importance of understanding the legal and cultural context in which families seek and engage in treatment. Recommendations for further research, suggestions for clinicians, and considerations for policy change to decrease the identified treatment barriers for families impacted by CSA are provided

Parenting Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth: Relationship between Parental Acceptance-Rejection, Sense of Competence, Access of Resources, and Gender Affirming Parenting Practices

Parents of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth play an important role in outcomes for their children. Legislation intended to exclude TGD individuals from basic rights and protections has been passed into law around the United States regardless of increasing scientific evidence that gender affirmation sharply decreases the myriad risk factors associated with gender-based discrimination experienced by TGD individuals. Despite increasing attention to TGD issues, parents of TGD children may struggle to find adequate evidence-based information and support. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parental access of resources related to TGD identity and their gender affirming parenting practices, acceptance-rejection, and their parental sense of competence. Participants were 183 parents of TGD youth in the United States who completed an online survey. The survey was distributed online through social media and newsletters of organizations supporting parents of TGD youth. Findings show that most participants were highly involved in searching out information about TGD identity. Parents found community- and peer-based information the most helpful in their understanding of TGD identity, however these resources were also more difficult to find. More access of resources was associated with a greater sense of parental competence and increased acceptance of their child. Those with both higher parental sense of competence and who were more accepting of their child also tended to practice more gender affirming parenting behaviors. Gender affirming parenting practices were also predicted by parental religiosity factors, such that greater god-consciousness predicted more gender affirming behaviors while greater engagement in formal religious practices predicted fewer gender affirming behaviors. Other demographic factors tended to show attitudes and behaviors consistent with the literature, with sexual and gender minorities, cisgender women, those with higher levels of education, and Democrats reporting higher levels of gender affirming parenting practices. Also, resources were unavailable or delayed due to the pandemic although participants did not feel the pandemic had affected the quality of their parenting

Identifying and addressing barriers to treatment for child sexual abuse survivors and their non-offending caregivers

Mental health treatment is a critical part of an effective and compassionate response to the disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA). Given the vast negative consequences for children and families following CSA, engagement in treatment can benefit youth and their non-offending caregivers. Yet, these families face unique barriers to treatment initiation, adherence, and effectiveness. The identification of these barriers allows clinicians, researchers, and policy makers to increase treatment utilization, engagement, and value. The current review and its recommendations derive from the existing literature combined with knowledge gained from a clinical research team with more than 20 years of experience offering a treatment program for CSA survivors and their non-offending family members. The review organizes barriers around factors related to individual characteristics of children and caregivers, perceptions and beliefs commonly held following CSA, and challenging family interactions in the context of individual and group treatment for CSA. Finally, barriers related to systemic and societal factors are examined given the importance of understanding the legal and cultural context in which families seek and engage in treatment. Recommendations for further research, suggestions for clinicians, and considerations for policy change to decrease the identified treatment barriers for families impacted by CSA are provided