Dissociative and Sexual Behaviors in Children and Adolescents With Sexual Abuse and Psychiatric Histories

Abstract

Dissociative and sexual behaviors were assessed in a sample of 350 children ages 7-18. Four groups were evaluated: a nonpsychiatric comparison sample, a psychiatric sample with no history of sexual abuse, a psychiatric sample with clear evidence of sexual abuse, and another group for whom sexual abuse was likely but not substantiated. All children completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist-Children (TSC-C), and varying numbers completed the Rorschach and MMPI. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBC), Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI), and Child Dissociation Checklist (CDC). Mean differences on the Dissociation and Sexual Concerns subscales of the TSC-C existed between the nonpsychiatric and psychiatric groups. The Dissociation subscale was significantly correlated with MMPI Scale 8 and CDC. Sexual Concerns were significantly related to sexual content on the Rorschach, CBC sex problems, and the CSBI. Duration and nature of abuse significantly contributed over and above age and gender in predicting total score on the Dissociation subscale.