Citation

Bal S, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Crombez G, Van Oost P. J. Interpers. Violence 2004; 19(1): 108-123.

Affiliation

Ghent University, Belgium. Sarah.Bal@ugent.be.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260503259053

PMID

14680532

Abstract

This study investigated to what extent abuse-related symptoms and family functioning are related to intra- or extrafamilial sexual abuse. One hundred adolescents (12 to 18 years old) were recruited shortly after disclosure of the abuse. Information from the participants was obtained through self-report questionnaires and a semistructured interview. Fifty-three percent of the adolescents reported clinically significant symptoms. Data did not support the idea that intrafamilial sexually abused adolescents report more symptoms than extrafamilial sexually abused adolescents. Type of abuse did not account for the differences and variety of reported symptoms or for differences in family functioning. Family functioning-in particular, lack of cohesion- was an independent contributor to internalizing trauma-related problems.

Language: en