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Campbell CL, Wamser RA. Children with sexual behavior problems: Ties to child maltreatment, family functioning, and help-seeking. J Trauma Stress 2024; 37:35-46. [PMID: 37880835 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Although the literature on children's sexual behavior problems (SBPs) has indicated that maltreatment and family dysfunction are linked to SBPs, several facets of these factors have remained unexamined. Prior research has largely focused on SBPs more broadly, though interpersonal SBPs (ISBPs) are likely a distinct, more severe SBP subtype. The aim of the current study was to examine potentially relevant, unexplored factors, including the number of types of and total allegations of maltreatment as well as familial characteristics (i.e., parenting attitudes and behaviors, discipline methods, family functioning, and help-seeking) in relation to SBPs and ISBPs. The present study included 8-year-old children (N = 1,011, 51.1% female, 53.8% Black) and their caregivers from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) study. In the model for SBPs, externalizing symptoms, the number of types of maltreatment allegations, maladaptive discipline methods, and help-seeking were associated with SBPs, whereas child's gender, race/ethnicity, internalizing symptoms, total maltreatment allegations, income, family functioning, and parenting attitudes were unrelated, r2 = .23. When ISBPs were examined, only child's gender and externalizing symptoms were tied to ISBPs, r2 = .09. However, child's race/ethnicity and internalizing symptoms, as well as maltreatment experiences, family factors, and help-seeking, were not associated with ISBPs. These findings highlight the importance of broader externalizing symptoms for both SBPs and ISBPs as well as the role of multiple types of maltreatment, parenting behavior, and help-seeking in the context of general SBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia L Campbell
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Rachel A Wamser
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Mori C, Park J, Racine N, Ganshorn H, Hartwick C, Madigan S. Exposure to sexual content and problematic sexual behaviors in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 143:106255. [PMID: 37343427 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to sexual content, such as online pornography or live sexual content, has been posited in the literature as a risk factor for problematic sexual behaviors (PSBs) in children and adolescents, and has been identified as an important avenue for research and intervention, particularly given the ubiquitous access to technology among children. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between live/violent and non-violent sexual content exposure and PSB among children and adolescents. Objectives also include informing future research on sexual content exposure as a risk factor for PSB, and providing clinical recommendations related to prevention and intervention. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Results are based on 16,200 participants (28.65 % female; Mage = 14.26; range = 4.74-17.92) and 27 studies conducted in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. METHODS A systematic review was conducted of available literature published up to September 2021. Abstract and full-text review were conducted to assess whether studies met inclusion criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted on included studies. RESULTS Significant associations were found between exposure to non-violent sexual content and likelihood of engaging in PSB (OR = 1.82; p < .001; 95 % CI: 1.50-2.21), and between exposure to violent/live sexual content and PSB (OR = 2.52; p < .001; 95 % CI: 1.75-3.61). Sex emerged as a moderator of the association between exposure to non-violent sexual content and PSB, such that the association was stronger in studies with a greater proportion of females. CONCLUSIONS Results support the need for future research on risk factors and mechanisms implicated in PSB. Prevention and intervention programs for children with PSB and their families could benefit from incorporating education on sexual content exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Mori
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, 28 Oki Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 6A8, Canada.
| | - Julianna Park
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, 99 University Ave, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Nicole Racine
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Vanier 4087, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Heather Ganshorn
- Libraries and Cultural Resources, Taylor Family Digital Library, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Cailey Hartwick
- Child Abuse Service, Luna Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, 400-3820 24 Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 2X9, Canada.
| | - Sheri Madigan
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, 28 Oki Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T3B 6A8, Canada.
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Schulte JA, Boone MK, Aronson KR, Perkins DF. A Non-Clinical Referral Tool to Help Identify Problematic Child Sexual Behavior: Development, Training, and Initial User Feedback. JOURNAL OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 2023; 32:1016-1035. [PMID: 37921448 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2023.2276289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Early identification of children and youth who engage in problematic sexual behavior is important for all parties involved, such as children who exhibit and are impacted by the behavior. There are several reliable and valid identification tools that can be used to recognize problematic sexual behavior in children and youth (PSB-CY) in clinical practice; however, professionals who work with children in non-clinical settings (i.e., child development centers, youth programs, and schools) often have limited resources and tools when they encounter PSB-CY. This paper describes the development, content, and user feedback of a referral tool (RT) that was designed to help identify incidents of PSB-CY for use with military agencies and schools. Specifically, the RT was designed to help professionals, who may have observed or who may have been made aware of sexual behaviors in children and youth, organize their observations of the behavior in alignment with evidence-based information about PSB-CY and consistently document these occurrences. The RT guides users in determining if the observed behavior is normative, cautionary, or problematic and promotes informed decisions about whether the behavior needs to be referred to those who have experience using clinical tools for further review and the identification of next steps for supporting the children and families involved. Early adopters provided feedback on the use of the RT. The feedback suggested that the tool was user-friendly, understandable, and helpful as they made objective decisions about how to identify and handle referrals of PSB-CY.
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Allen B, Pistone LF. Psychometric evaluation of a single-item screening tool for the presence of problematic sexual behavior among preteen children. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 143:106327. [PMID: 37390590 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preteen children with problematic sexual behavior (PSB) are increasingly coming to the attention of mental health professionals. However, efforts to provide clinical care to these children are hampered by the limited dissemination and implementation of effective screening procedures. OBJECTIVE A single-item screening tool designed for implementation in mental health settings was developed and tested for psychometric quality. PARTICIPANTS Participants included caregivers of children receiving clinical services as a result of displaying PSB and/or subsequent to disclosure of child maltreatment (n = 341). METHODS Caregivers completed the single-item tool at the onset of services and approximately 15 days later. In addition, caregivers completed the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Child Stress Disorder Checklist-Short Form at the initial assessment. RESULTS Analyses demonstrated acceptable test-retest reliability of the tool (phi = 0.70-0.74, p < .001). Validity was established by showing that caregivers providing a positive response on the single-item tool scored children significantly higher on a full-length measure assessing PSB than caregivers denying such concerns on the single-item tool (t = 7.28-9.8, p < .001). However, scores on measures of internalizing concerns and posttraumatic stress symptoms were not distinguished by caregiver responses to the single item tool. CONCLUSIONS The newly developed single-item tool appears to offer an efficient, reliable, and valid method of screening preteen children for the presence of PSB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Center for the Protection of Children, Penn State Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA.
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Allen B. Etiological Pathways to the Emergence of Preteen Problematic Sexual Behavior: An Exploratory Mediational Model. SEXUAL ABUSE : A JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2023; 35:488-502. [PMID: 36120955 DOI: 10.1177/10790632221128313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Studies examining the etiology of problematic sexual behavior (PSB) among pre-teen children often rely on identifying correlational relationships without examining potential causal mechanisms. This study describes an exploratory analysis of a potential mediational model where child sexual abuse (CSA) and child physical abuse (CPA) predict the onset of PSB through their impact on the emergence of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and self-dysregulation. The caregivers of 189 children between the ages of 3 and 11 years presenting for mental health treatment in the United States completed a battery of measures designed to assess each of the variables in the model. Cross-sectional, regression-based mediational analyses showed that the overall model performed adequately (R = 0.33, R2 = 0.11, F = 3.07, p = .004). CSA exerted a direct effect on PSB that was not mediated through either PTS or self-dysregulation. However, no direct effect for CPA was found. Rather, CPA exerted a significant effect on the display of self-dysregulation, which in turn was associated with PSB. These results are discussed in light of clinical implications and directions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
- Center for the Protection of Children, Penn State Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA
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Allen B. Etiological Perspectives on Problematic Sexual Behavior of Preteen Children: Implications for Treatment. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2023; 26:50-64. [PMID: 36094684 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-022-00412-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) among preteen children is a poorly understood clinical phenomenon that may leave even the most skilled and knowledgeable of clinicians at a loss when attempting to develop an evidence-based treatment approach. Much of this lack of practical direction can be credited to the relatively scarce clinical trial research examining this outcome. Nonetheless, the etiological research on PSB provides clearer directions and suggests the implementation of already well-established interventions may be effective. This paper reviews the current state of the etiological research pertaining to PSB and places these findings within developmental psychopathology, social learning theory, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology frameworks. Specific treatment directives derived from these three viewpoints are then reviewed, including a review of the current evidence base for the treatment of PSB. Finally, a treatment planning algorithm is specified to help clinicians identify the most beneficial approach to treating PSB in a given case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
- Center for the Protection of Children, Penn State Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA.
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Shawler P, Silvis VG, Taylor EK, Shields J, Beasley L, Silovsky JF. Early identification of youth with problematic sexual behavior: A qualitative study. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 105:104317. [PMID: 31843211 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early intervention efforts designed for youth with problematic sexual behavior (PSB) have strong promise. Prompt identification of youth with PSB is critical to ensuring early intervention and effective response. OBJECTIVE The current study explored the complexities of how PSB of youth is identified in the community. SETTING A qualitative semi-structured interview approach was utilized to explore the perceptions and experiences of community members involved in cases of youth with PSB. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 100 community members from eight geographically diverse locations in the United States. METHOD Themes involving identification of PSB were classified by qualitative analyses, beginning with thematic analysis followed by focused coding. RESULTS Results indicated multiple pathways for the identification of youth with PSB involving a variety of professionals and agencies. Victim disclosure and witnessing the PSB were the most common identification pathways, with caregivers and school personnel the most common initial identifiers. Once identified, cases were reported to child welfare, law enforcement, and/or behavioral health agencies. Complications due to unclear response pathways and fears held by caregivers were notable. CONCLUSIONS Developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed policies and procedures for the identification of and response to PSB in youth within and across professions would facilitate a public health response to for prevention and early responses to PSB of youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Shawler
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, United States.
| | | | - Erin K Taylor
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, United States
| | | | | | - Jane F Silovsky
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, United States
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Abstract
The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the course of sexualized behavior problems (SBP) over 2 years in a sample comprised of 104 children aged 2-12, including 62 children with histories of child sexual abuse (CSA). Parents completed questionnaires assessing SBP, internalizing and externalizing difficulties at baseline, as well as 2 years later. In more than half (56.7%) of children with clinically significant SBP at baseline, sexualized behaviors persisted and remained at a clinically significant level over time. In children with CSA, 48.4% presented persistent SBP, 27.4% presented transitory SBP, while 19.4% did not present clinically significant SBP at either time. CSA increased the relative risk of persistent SBP 3.29 times, and for each one-unit increase in scores of externalizing difficulties, the odds of persistent SBP increased by 21%. The findings suggest that SBP consequent to CSA, especially when it co-occurs with externalizing difficulties, is likely to remain at levels warranting clinical intervention.
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Allen B. Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) With Preteen Children Displaying Problematic Sexual Behavior. COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL PRACTICE 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Grossi LM, Brereton A, Lee AF, Schuler A, Prentky RA. Sexual reoffense trajectories with youths in the child welfare system. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2017; 68:81-95. [PMID: 28414940 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The present study sought to determine whether the persistence of problematic sexualized behaviors (PSBs) committed by boys in the Massachusetts child welfare system would lend support to previous taxonomies categorizing offenders as early-onset/life course-persistent, adolescence-onset/adolescence-limited, or childhood-limited in their offending behavior. We examined the persistence of PSBs in a male sample (N=638; age range: two to 17), using a retrospective longitudinal archival design. Procedures involved a comprehensive archival review of records from the Department of Children and Families. Subsamples were established by trifurcating the sample based on age at the time of the boys' first documented PSB, resulting in age cohorts reflecting early childhood (age two to seven), middle childhood (age eight to 11), and preadolescence/adolescence (age 12-17). Results supported the hypothesis that youths who first exhibited PSBs in early childhood would produce higher sexual reoffense rates during each of three follow-up windows (i.e., three years, five years, and seven years) than youths who first exhibited such behaviors in middle childhood, or preadolescence/adolescence (p<0.01 for all group contrasts). Findings supported the distinctions of several taxonomies classifying youthful offenders in the juvenile justice system. Abuse reactivity, coping ability, and vulnerability to iatrogenic intervention effects are considered as some of many possible contributing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Grossi
- Fairleigh Dickinson University, School of Psychology (T-WH1-01), Metropolitan Campus, 1000 River Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666, USA.
| | - Alexandra Brereton
- Fairleigh Dickinson University, School of Psychology (T-WH1-01), Metropolitan Campus, 1000 River Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666, USA
| | - Austin F Lee
- Research Center for Statistics and Actuarial Science in Medicine, School of Statistics, Xi'An University of Finance and Economics, 2 Weichang Lu, Chang'an District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China; Bentley University, Department of Mathematical Sciences, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Surgery, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ann Schuler
- Justice Resource Institute,160 Gould Street, Suite 300, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Robert A Prentky
- Fairleigh Dickinson University, School of Psychology (T-WH1-01), Metropolitan Campus, 1000 River Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666, USA.
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Allen B. Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Clinical Characteristics and Relationship to Child Maltreatment. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2017; 48:189-199. [PMID: 26923833 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-016-0633-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Research examining children with sexual behavior problems (SBP) almost exclusively relies on caregiver reports. The current study, involving a sample of 1112 children drawn from a prospective study, utilizes child self-reports and teacher reports, as well caregiver-reports. First, analyses examined children displaying any SBP; a second set of analyses specifically examined children displaying interpersonal forms of SBP. Caregivers reported greater internalizing, externalizing, and social problems for children with general SBP and/or interpersonal SBP when compared to children without SBP. Caregiver concerns were rarely corroborated by teacher and child reports. Protective services records indicated that SBP was linked to childhood sexual abuse, but sexual abuse occurred in the minority of these cases. Physical abuse was more common among children with interpersonal forms of SBP. The data in the current study suggest the need for multiple reporters when assessing children presenting with SBP and that conventional views of these children may be misleading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Center for the Protection of Children, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
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Cale J, Lussier P. Sexual behaviour in preschool children in the context of intra-parental violence and sexual coercion. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH : CBMH 2017; 27:176-190. [PMID: 27027504 DOI: 10.1002/cbm.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Very little is understood about the developmental antecedents of sexual behaviour prior to adolescence. AIMS Our aim was to examine the impact of different forms of intimate partner violence on early childhood sexual development. METHODS We used data from an ongoing prospective longitudinal cohort study of Canadian families. Intimate partner violence of various kinds was measured using a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale. Measures of child sexual development were based on the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory. Both measures relied on parental report. RESULTS Sexual coercion between parental figures, but not physical violence or emotional aggression, was significantly associated with intrusive sexual behaviours shown by 3- to 5-year-old children. CONCLUSIONS It may seem unlikely that 3- to 5- year-old children can understand that their parents are in a sexually coercive relationship, but our findings suggest that they are sufficiently aware of such behaviours when they occur that they may start to model their own behaviour on them. Clinicians and social workers may need to be more aware of this possibility. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Cale
- School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Patrick Lussier
- School of Social Work, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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Allen B, Timmer SG, Urquiza AJ. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for sexual concerns of maltreated children: A preliminary investigation. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2016; 56:80-88. [PMID: 27155807 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The current study examines whether an evidence-based treatment for externalizing behavior problems may reduce sexual concerns among children with maltreatment histories. An archival analysis identified 44 children between the ages of 3 and 8 exhibiting externalizing problems and co-morbid sexual concerns who were treated using Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). A second group of children receiving PCIT for externalizing behaviors without sexual concerns was included for comparison purposes (n=143). Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Tests indicated significant improvement among the group with sexual concerns, with 63.6% of children no longer displaying clinically significant sexual concerns at post-treatment. In addition, these children showed a decline in general externalizing problems comparable to that observed among the group of children receiving PCIT and not displaying sexual concerns. Lastly, logistic regression analyses showed that pre-treatment posttraumatic stress scores did not moderate improvement of sexual concerns, suggesting that posttraumatic stress-related sexual concerns may improve from PCIT treatment. These findings suggest that evidence-based parent training interventions, specifically PCIT, may successfully reduce sexual concerns among children who experienced maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA.
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Allen B, Berliner L. Evidence-Informed, Individual Treatment of a Child with Sexual Behavior Problems: A Case Study. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2015; 44:2323-2331. [PMID: 25784200 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-014-0460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Children with sexual behavior problems pose a significant challenge for community-based mental health clinicians. Very few clinical trials are available to guide intervention and those interventions that are available are based in a group format. The current case study demonstrates the application of evidence-informed treatment techniques during the individual treatment of a 10-year-old boy displaying interpersonal sexual behavior problems. Specifically, the clinician adapts and implements a group-based model developed and tested by Bonner et al. (1999) for use with an individual child and his caregivers. Key points of the case study are discussed within the context of implementing evidence-informed treatments for children with sexual behavior problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Center for the Protection of Children, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Mail Code H085, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
| | - Lucy Berliner
- Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Allen B, Thorn BL, Gully KJ. A comparison of self-reported emotional and trauma-related concerns among sexually abused children with and without sexual behavior problems. CHILD MALTREATMENT 2015; 20:136-140. [PMID: 25601939 DOI: 10.1177/1077559514566864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies document concomitant features of sexual behavior problems (SBPs) among children 12 years of age or younger, but rarely does research involve child self-report assessments. This study provides the most comprehensive examination to date of self-reported concerns among children with SBP, using a large sample (N = 392) of clinically referred participants who reported sexual abuse histories. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 were categorized as demonstrating SBP (n = 203) or not demonstrating SBP (n = 189) as determined by scores on the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory. Children completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children, and caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Self-reports of children showed that those with SBP reported significantly greater concerns in all areas, including sexual preoccupation and sexual distress, than their peers not demonstrating SBP. Caregivers of children in the SBP group reported greater concerns of internalizing and externalizing problems than the caregivers of children who did not have SBP. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. Specifically, it is recommended that future research improve on the manner in which sexual abuse and SBPs were defined and assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Allen
- Center for the Protection of Children, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Brian L Thorn
- Center for Safe and Healthy Families, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kevin J Gully
- Center for Safe and Healthy Families, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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