Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Suicidal Ideation Among Sexually Abused Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Shame |
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| Authors: | Stéphanie Alix Louise Cossette Mireille Cyr Jean-Yves Frappier |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada;2. Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada;3. Pediatric Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTSexual abuse is associated with a host of negative repercussions in adolescence. Yet the possible mechanisms linking sexual abuse and negative outcomes are understudied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among self-blame, shame, coping strategies, posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. The sample included 147 sexually abused adolescent girls between 14 and 18 years of age. A total of 66% of girls reached clinical score for posttraumatic stress disorder, and 53% reached clinical score for depressive symptoms. Close to half (46%) reported suicidal thoughts in the past 3 months. Shame was found to partially mediate the relationship between self-blame and posttraumatic stress disorder. Shame and depressive symptoms were also found to partially mediate the relationship between self-blame and suicidal ideation. Results suggest that shame is a crucial target in interventions designed for sexually abused adolescent girls. |
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| Keywords: | attributions child sexual abuse coping strategies depression self-blame stigma |
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