1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The main objective of the present study was to contrast attachment representations in sexually abused and non-abused preschoolers. […] The second objective was to evaluate the relation between mothers’ CSA [child sexual abuse] and children’s attachment representations among abused and non-abused children.» (p. 477)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Based on the results of previous studies on maltreatment and CSA, it was expected that sexually abused children would present higher levels of attachment disorganization than children in the comparison group. [Moreover, it] was expected that attachment insecurity would be greater in children whose mothers report a history of victimization.» (p. 477)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«A sample of 258 (49 boys) sexually abused preschoolers (M = 4.46 years old; SD = 0.76) and their non-offending parents (90% a maternal figure) were recruited in two specialized intervention settings, in Montreal, Canada. [Furthermore, a] sample of 133 (37 boys) non-abused children (M = 4.35 years old; SD = 0.68) was recruited in daycare centers and kindergartens in the Montreal area and served as a comparison group.» (p. 477-478)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Results indicated that sexually abused preschoolers presented significantly higher levels of hyperactivation and disorganization in their stories compared to non-abused children. Hyperactivation is characterized by the absence of constructive resolutions due to an overflow of emotions and by an emphasis on negative aspects in the stories. As for disorganization, stories generally imply violent and catastrophic themes, loss of control, as well as unprotective parents.» (p. 484) The «results did not replicate […] findings regarding the association between mothers’ history of sexual abuse and children’s attachment. Although there was a higher prevalence of CSA in mothers of abused children relative to mothers of non-abused children (42.9% vs. 11.3%), no differences were found in terms of child attachment representations. […] One hypothesis is that the association between maternal victimization and insecure attachment in children may exist mostly within the limits of severe CSA experiences. Moreover, mothers’ caregiving attitude may be affected differently depending on whether their own abuse involved a family member or not, which could consequently have an impact on the parent–child relationship and affect child attachment.» (p. 486)