Ethnic differences in circumstances of abuse and symptoms of depression and anger among sexually abused black and Latino boys.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to examine the extent to which ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse would be related to psychological outcomes and whether the relationship of ethnicity to psychological outcomes would be independent of ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse.

METHOD

Ethnic difference in the circumstances of the abuse, depression, and anger, as measured by the Children's Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, were assessed in 60 Black and Latino sexually abused males aged 13 to 18 years. Factors related to levels of depression and anger in these two groups were also identified.

RESULTS

Latino males were more likely to have been sexually abused by an extended family member, experienced more genital fondling and were exposed to more sexually abusive behaviors. Blacks were more likely to be abused by an immediate family member. Black males had higher anger scores than Latino males, but, there were no ethnic differences in depression scores. Both ethnicity and the relationship to the perpetrator were significantly related to scores on the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, however, ethnicity was also significantly related to anger scores irrespective of the relationship to the perpetrator.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse were related to psychological outcome and the relationship of ethnicity to anger scores was independent of ethnic differences in the circumstances of abuse.