1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The main objective of the current study was to test a theoretical model where dissociation is considered a core process in the development of internalizing, externalizing and sexualized behaviour difficulties in children following CSA [child sexual abuse].» (p. 118)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«It was anticipated that sexually abused children would manifest significantly higher rates of dissociation as well as of internalizing, externalizing, and sexualized behaviour difficulties compared to non-abused children. Furthermore, it was expected that dissociation would mediate the relationship between CSA and internalizing, externalizing, and sexualizing behaviour difficulties.» (p. 118)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The CSA group was composed of 84 girls (61%) and 54 boys (39%) with an age range from 2 years and 9 months to 12 years and 9 months […].» (p. 118) «The majority (62%) of perpetrators were related to their victims; 53% were members of immediate family and 9% were members of their extended families. […] The control group was composed of 82 girls (54%) and 70 boys (46%) with an age range from 2 years and 5 months to 12 years […].» (p. 118)

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«As predicted, children who experienced sexual abuse manifested significantly more dissociative symptoms than those from the non-abused community control group. In addition, 40% of the children exposed to CSA manifested dissociative symptoms at a level considered clinically significant, whereas none of the control group children did. […] The main finding of the study was that dissociation fully mediated the relationship between CSA and child difficulties, including internalizing, externalizing and sexualized behaviour difficulties after controlling for socio-economic status. […] In sum, the findings suggest that dissociation may be important in the pathway from child sexual abuse to child psychological and behavioural difficulties.» (p. 121) «There were no significant (nor near significant) differences between children who experienced intra-familial and extra-familial abuse in terms of dissociation, internalizing, externalizing and sexualized behaviour difficulties.» (p. 119) In addition, the authors found, when evaluating the influence of socio-economic status on both groups, «that CSA was associated with lower family incomes and maternal education level, as well as different family structures in that mothers of children in the CSA group were more likely to be divorced and single at the time of the study […].» (p. 119)