Weekly Problems Scales: Instruments for Sexually Abused Youth and Their Nonoffending Parents in Treatment

Authors

Genelle K. Sawyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Eugenia Hsu Tsao, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
David J. Hansen, Univertsity of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mary Fran Flood, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-1-2006

Comments

Published in Child Maltreatment 11:1 (February 2006), pp. 34-48. DOI: 10.1177/1077559505283550 © 2006 Sage Publications. Used by permission.

Abstract

This study’s purpose was to determine if efficient measures could be created to assess multiple problematic behaviors identified in youth who were sexually abused and in treatment. Because of the lack of easily administered brief instruments that assess multiple domains of interest in this population, complementary parent and child assessment measures were developed. The Weekly Problems Scale–Child Version (WPSC) and the Weekly Problems Scale–Parent Version (WPS-P) were created to monitor the weekly progress of the child and family in treatment and focus specifically on common areas of difficulties in this population. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assist in identifying the number of underlying dimensions in the scales. Results indicate that the WPS-C and WPS-P demonstrate adequate internal consistency, temporal stability, and construct validity. The WPS-C and WPSP display significant promise as research and clinical assessment tools for use with youth who are sexually abused and their nonoffending parents in treatment.