1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[I]n collaboration with [the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) clinic], the current pilot study documented whether the combined TF-CBT [Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy] / AVI [Attachment Video-feedback Intervention] intervention led to positive changes in SA [sexual abuse] children and their non-offending caregivers.» (p. 122)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«We expected that SA children would show reductions in internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms following intervention from pre- to post-tests. We also hypothesized that non-offending parents would show diminished psychological distress and posttraumatic symptoms from pre- and post-tests.» (p. 122-123)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample consisted of 33 SA children (10 boys and 23 girls; mean age: 4.79 years old,[…], and their non-offending caregivers. Caregivers were the non-offending parental figures and included mothers (69.7%), fathers (15.2%), grandmothers or foster care mothers (15.1%). All families were recruited at the CAC situated in Montreal. To participate in this study, children had to be aged between 4 and 6 years old, had to have disclosed sexual abuse and be eligible to services at the CAC.» (p. 123) In addition, semi-structured play between caregivers and their children were filmed during the AVI sessions.

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Overall, results of this study showed positive changes for caregivers and their children.» (p. 128) In addition, this «study focused on a population of young children and, notwithstanding their young age, the majority of them were victims of severe sexual abuse involving penetration or attempted penetration. Furthermore, over 25% of the children were victims of multiple and chronic episodes of SA, spanning over a period of 6 months or more. Moreover, the majority of the children were abused by a member of their immediate or extended family. An important proportion of the children showed clinical symptoms, especially internalizing problems (32.3%). Fewer children showed clinical levels of externalizing (12.9%) or dissociative symptoms (18.2%). As well, a fair proportion of the mothers showed clinical levels of psychological distress (39.4%), although fewer mothers presented clinical levels of PTSD [parental symptoms of posttraumatic stress] (10.7%).» (p. 128)