The Effect of the Primary Caretaker's Distress on the Sexually Abused Child: A Comparison of Biological and Foster Parents

Secondary trauma experienced by sexually abused children has only recently been explored in the literature. The scant findings suggest that out-of-home placement, the family's reaction to disclosure, and the emotional functioning of mothers may impact upon the emotional well-being of the sexually abused child. This study reports findings of data collected from 26 biological and 45 non-relative primary caretakers of molested children (n = 71). The data indicate significant differences between the two groups of caretakers with regard to maternal distress and support, and a strong relationship between the distress of the caretaker and symptomatology of the child. Significant predictors of child symptomatology and maternal support are reported, and recommendations for practice and policy applications are discussed.