Symptom Presentation of Sexually Abused Youth at a Child Advocacy Center: An Examination of Parental Factors

Authors

Erika Boohar, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Chelsey Wisehart, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kelsey McCoy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
David J. Hansen, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

4-2020

Document Type

Poster

Citation

Boohar, E., Wisehart, C., McCoy, K., & Hansen, D. J. (2020). Symptom Presentation of Sexually Abused Youth at a Child Advocacy Center: An Examination of Parental Factors. Poster for the UCARE Research Symposium.

Comments

Copyright (c) 2020 Erika Boohar, Chelsey Wisehart, Kelsey McCoy, David J. Hansen

Abstract

Parental involvement and support are crucial factors in child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors’ outcomes (Kilroy et al., 2014); however, non-offending parents often report increased psychosocial distress or traumatization following CSA disclosure (Plummer, 2006). The present study explored the relationship between parental factors and child symptomology following CSA. It was hypothesized that parents who report greater difficulties in their parental role will report greater internalizing and externalizing problems for sexually abused youth presenting to a treatment program at a Child Advocacy Center. Participants were 273 parents of sexually abused youth presenting to Project SAFE (Sexual Abuse Family Education) and were 23-72 years old, 87.8% females, and 86.7% European American. Results from the analyses provide support for concurrent parent-child treatment programs and highlight the necessity for parent education within the program.