Psychometrics of a Child Report Measure of Maternal Support following Disclosure of Sexual Abuse |
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Authors: | Daniel W. Smith Genelle K. Sawyer Nicholas C. Heck Kristyn Zajac David Solomon Shannon Self-Brown |
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Affiliation: | 1. National Crime Victims Research Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USAsmithdw@musc.edu;3. National Crime Victims Research Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA;4. National Crime Victims Research &5. Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA;6. Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTThe study examined a new child report measure of maternal support following child sexual abuse. One hundred and forty-six mother–child dyads presenting for a forensic evaluation completed assessments including standardized measures of adjustment. Child participants also responded to 32 items considered for inclusion in a new measure, the Maternal Support Questionnaire–Child Report (MSQ-CR). Exploratory factor analysis of the Maternal Support Questionnaire–Child Report resulted in a three factor, 20-item solution: Emotional Support (9 items), Skeptical Preoccupation (5 items), and Protection/Retaliation (6 items). Each factor demonstrated adequate internal consistency. Construct and concurrent validity of the new measure were supported in comparison to other trauma-specific measures. The Maternal Support Questionnaire–Child Report demonstrated sound psychometric properties. Future research is needed to determine whether the Maternal Support Questionnaire–Child Report provides a more sensitive approximation of maternal support following disclosure of sexual abuse, relative to measures of global parent–child relations and to contextualize discrepancies between mother and child ratings of maternal support. |
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Keywords: | child advocacy center measurement reliability traumatic stress validity |
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