Female adolescent response to childhood sexual abuse.

PROBLEM

History of childhood sexual abuse has been linked to fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, anger, hostility, poor self-esteem, substance abuse, and sexual maladjustment, as well as somatic complaints. The purpose of this study was to compare sexually abused adolescent females to adolescent females who have not ben sexually abused with respect to incidence of emotional disorders and somatic symptoms.

METHODS

A convenience sample of females, ages 12-17, included 11 identified victims of sexual abuse and 11 nonabused adolescents. A descriptive design using multiple methods of data collection: interview questions, self-report questionnaires, and projective drawings.

FINDINGS

The sexually abused adolescents scored significantly higher than the adolescents who had no history of sexual abuse on specific sub scales (anxiety, muscle tension, cognitive disorganization) and on the total scale scores of both the SOS and the SCL-90.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the epidemic proportions of childhood sexual abuse, nurses in varied settings are in a position to identify, evaluate, and treat families with adolescents who manifest a wide range of sequelae.