Sexual abuse prevention for preschoolers: a pilot program

A demonstration program using a puppet show, followed by coloring-page activity, was well received by preschoolers in nursery schools and day care centers, and by their parents and teachers.     

Sexual abuse prevention programme fidelity: video analysis of interactions

This paper identifies key themes from research into programme fidelity of sexual abuse prevention programmes. It presents a detailed analysis of programme fidelity within a study of the Tweenees school‐based abuse prevention programme (Barron and Topping, 2010 ). The paper reports how programme fidelity was addressed in a programme delivered to survivors of child sexual abuse by experienced survivor organisation workers. There was also study of programme fidelity in the delivery of the programme to grade‐seven pupils through co‐working between survivor organisation workers and teachers. Video was taken of all four sessions delivered to the survivors' group. To begin to explore programme fidelity when lessons were co‐delivered by survivor organisation workers and a teacher, the first session of a grade‐seven class was videoed. Survivor organisation workers achieved high levels of programme fidelity characterised by facilitative communicative behaviours (e.g. affirming responses, seeking clarification, checking understanding and summarising). The grade‐seven teacher's communication was characterised by a behaviour management focus. Video analysis of interactions was a useful measure for programme fidelity and analysing appropriate communication underpinning delivery of the programme. Recommendations for future programme fidelity measures are provided for researchers and practitioners in the field. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities: prevention strategies for clinical practice

Sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities occurs in alarming proportions, although the prevalence and incidence of such abuse is difficult to determine. Although all states maintain statistics on child sexual abuse, the rate of victimization for individuals with disabilities is not specific. This paper reviews several studies conducted on sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities with a focus on clinical prevention strategies. Recommendations for future directions in prevention and research are provided.     

Mathematician's call for interdisciplinary research effort

The article addresses the necessity of increasing the role of mathematics in the psychological intervention in problem gambling, including cognitive therapies. It also calls for interdisciplinary research with the direct contribution of mathematics. The current contributions and limitations of the role of mathematics are analysed with an eye toward the professional profiles of the researchers. An enhanced collaboration between these two disciplines is suggested and predicted.     

Drug abuse prevention evaluation methodology: a bright future

Drug abuse prevention research findings have been inconsistent. These inconsistencies can be related to several issues including study design and methodology. This article presents consensus recommendations developed to enhance drug abuse prevention evaluation research by a group of prevention researchers and practitioners who met at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Rockville, Maryland during May 1989. As noted by the number of consensus statements, there was a high level of agreement. After exploring various aspects of evaluating prevention interventions, that agreement was reflected in specific recommendations which are directed to modifying prevention approaches; integrating epidemiologic, etiologic and intervention research methods; and expanding prevention research utilization.     

Sexual abuse: a comparison between resilient victims and drug-addicted victims

The goal of this study was to determine which variables distinguish resilient victims from drug-addicted victims, who were sexually abused during their childhood--in addition, to measure the contribution of these variables to the level of distress experienced by the victims. There were two groups of 20 women interviewed. The resilient group showed no clinically significant symptoms of mental distress, and the addicted group were undergoing treatment for drug dependency. They all completed a semi-structured interview and a questionnaire regarding the type and severity of their sexual abuse, mental health status, self-esteem, locus of control, support and cognitive factors from Finkelhor's model. Both of these groups were equally and severely abused. Resilient and addicted women both received a moderate level of support. These women also reported the same sense of betrayal and powerlessness. Furthermore, both groups believe, to a large degree, that they now control what happens to them (internal locus of control). There were three distinguishing variables among the two groups, they were stigmatization, self-blame, and hazard for the locus of control. In comparison, resilient women had less self-blame for having been abused and they also felt less stigmatized than addicted women. In fact, stigmatization and self-blame account for 65% of the TSC-40 variance. These results suggest that cognitive strategies, particularly those that are linked to the interpretation of the event, may have some importance in the recovery.     

Pulsar: a qualitative study of a substance abuse prevention program

The purpose of this study was to explore the risk, protective factors, and resiliency characteristics of students selected to participate in the Police, Public Educators and Peers Utilizing the Leadership Skills of Students At Risk/As Resources (PULSAR) program. The study is significant as it employed qualitative methods and a resiliency-focused framework to evaluate a substance abuse prevention program. Findings revealed that the PULSAR program: facilitated self-reflection on student negative attitudes toward substance abuse and positive attitudes toward school; allowed students to gain skills that addressed individual needs; and fostered relationships between the students and adult facilitators in a safe environment. These results speak to increased protective factors and resiliency characteristics, but were not found to be constant with each student. Implications for continued research on the PULSAR program are addressed.     

Sexual abuse and juvenile delinquency

Case records were reviewed of 214 young women admitted to a Juvenile Classification Home in Japan for delinquent behaviour between 1983 and 1987. In 10 cases there were reports of a history of sexual abuse and these were 3 times more likely to be admitted to a Detention Home than other cases. All 10 women came from disrupted and economically disadvantaged family backgrounds. Most were depressed with low self-esteem. Five women were physically abused prior to sexual abuse, but behavioural problems were only concurrent and consequent to the sexual abuse. Most of the women were not believed by their mothers at the time of disclosure. Those women who were later believed by their mothers were more likely to return home (with the perpetrators no longer present) and less likely to continue to be victims of sexual abuse.     

Sexual abuse and group therapy

This article described the formation of a structured, open-ended, time-limited, repeatable group for sexually abused girls. The sexually abused pre-adolescent and young adolescent must address developmental tasks while attempting to cope with tremendous guilt, shame, and loss of self-esteem. The value of group therapy as a support to sexually abused children was explored and a format was devised to help them deal with their issues. Discussion questions and topics designated for each session helped meet their specific needs. The group members evaluated the group as being helpful overall. In conclusion, the expansion of psychotherapeutic services to sexually abused children through a structured group format has been proposed. If others are encouraged to engage in such work, then the purpose of this article has been achieved.     

Sexual abuse in sport: a model to prevent and protect athletes

Several studies clearly show that sexual abuse exists in sport. Currently, very few studies have examined the prevention and management of this problem in sports organisations. This article explores the measures used to prevent sexual abuse in sports organisations as well as the perceptions of the sports actors affected by these measures (parents, athletes, administrators and coaches). The results demonstrate that several factors affect the implementation of measures and the management of this problem in sports organisations. Moreover, few measures exist to prevent and manage cases of sexual abuse in these organisations, thus jeopardising the protection of athletes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sexual assault prevention with college-aged women: a bibliotherapy approach

The present research evaluated the efficacy of a skills-based bibliotherapy approach to sexual assault prevention for college-aged women. One hundred and ten participants were followed prospectively for 16 weeks. A self-help book, written by the authors, was compared to a wait-list control on several self-report measures. Results revealed significant differences between groups, with bibliotherapy participants reporting decreased participation in risky dating behaviors and improvement in sexual communication strategies across a variety of dating situations. However, results suggested that the self-help book was no more effective than the wait-list control in reducing rates of sexual victimization. Limitations of the study and directions for future sexual assault prevention research with women are discussed.     

Sexual abuse of nursing home residents

1. A new subgroup of rape victims resides in nursing homes. 2. Nursing home victims can suffer both compounded and silent rape trauma. 3. Innovative therapies are needed for treating elder rape trauma.     

Sexual abuse: Effects of group therapy on pre-adolescent girls

This article describes the effectiveness of a group therapy program used at the University of Manitoba with pre-adolescent girls who have experienced sexual abuse. Thirty-five girls, ranging in age from 7 to 12, were referred to structured therapy groups of 9 to 12 weeks' duration. Issues addressed in weekly sessions included feelings about the offender, problem-solving, sex education, and prevention of further abuse. Measurements of self-esteem, anxiety, and internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems were taken for participating children prior to and following treatment at 1 and 9 to 12 month intervals. Parent- and child-reported social validity data were also collected following treatment. Comparison group data for self-esteem and anxiety were provided by a non-random sample of 35 girls with no known history of sexual abuse. Results indicated that following group therapy, self-esteem increased and anxiety and behaviour problems decreased. Comparison group data further supported the effectiveness of group treatment in improving the self-esteem of sexually abused girls. Social validity reports of children and parents also suggested that treatment was helpful and worthwhile. Implications of the findings are discussed as are difficulties encountered in conducting treatment outcome research with children who have been sexually abused.     

Child abuse prevention: Blending research and practice

For over two decades, child abuse interventions have been plagued by poor definitions of what (or who) exactly is being treated, what constitutes ‘success’, and how services can be delivered in such a way as to minimize the harm to the child and to his/her family. Most recently, intervention/prevention programmes reflect the growing recognition that child maltreatment is the product of the interaction between the parent's abilities and resources and the child's emerging behavioural and emotional characteristics (i.e. the parent–child relationship), and place less emphasis on individual psychopathology. Accordingly, ways to strengthen this relationship offer considerably more promise than those aimed at correcting only one component (i.e. the parent) or treating only the visible symptoms of conflict. In an attempt to focus greater effort on prevention and early intervention, this paper reviews prominent risk factors that have been linked to physical abuse and neglect of children and their consequences. Major intervention targets are identified from this literature and discussed in reference to: (a) problems related to the family context; (b) child treatment needs; and (c) parent/caregiver treatment needs. The paper concludes with a discussion of promising developments in early intervention that are beginning to address problems in the early formation of the parent–child relationship (i.e. the pre-natal and infancy periods of development) and problems associated with parental competency and family support. Most notably, preventive efforts have been associated with more positive parenting knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviour, as well as fewer child injuries, emergency room visits, and reports to protective agencies among at-risk parents and children. Further evaluation and expansion of these programmes appears to be warranted by these data.     

Evaluating and improving prevention programs: a strategy from drug abuse.

This paper describes a methodology used to overcome the difficulties in evaluating and improving prevention programs. The methodology was applied in this case to a drug abuse prevention program. The methodology includes using health-oriented rather than pathology-oriented outcome measures, random assignment to groups, multiple settings, multiple outcome measures, goal-free evaluation, and the recording of process variables. The first year results showed program effectiveness in one setting and not in the other. Process analyses pointed toward improvements that could be made. Those improvements were implemented and led to greater program effectiveness in the second year.     

Sexual abuse and sexual functioning in a chronic pelvic pain sample

Sexual abuse, particularly childhood sexual abuse, has been linked to chronic pelvic pain and to sexual dysfunction, though the sexual functioning of survivors of sexual abuse has not been studied in a chronic pain population. Sixty-three women with chronic pelvic pain completed measures of sexual function, sexual abuse, and pain. Using an index of the extent of sexual abuse experiences in childhood and adolescence/adulthood, higher scores were related to lower rates of sexual activity, less satisfaction with orgasm and feelings of closeness with sexual partners, and greater severity of and interference from pain. Findings point to the importance of controlling for relationship status in analyses of long-term effects of sexual abuse and of assessing chronic pelvic pain patients for histories of sexual abuse using measures that address the extent or severity of abuse.     

The prevention of child abuse

An apparent practice oriented consensus that child abuse can and should be prevented covers over considerable conflict in ideology, interest and conceptual understanding. Three current approaches to the prevention of child abuse are reviewed: clinical health led risk assessment models, broader social reform strategies and criminal justice youth victimisation models. Sources of contradiction are explored through the definitions of child abuse underpinning different strategies. The paper proposes a change in the language of child protection, away from child abuse towards specified avoidable harm. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.