You can manage bookmarks using lists, please log in to your user account for this.
Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Forensic sexual abuse evaluations of older children: Disclosures and symptomatology
Contributor:
Elliott, Diana M.;
Briere, John
imprint:
Wiley, 1994
Published in:Behavioral Sciences & the Law
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1002/bsl.2370120306
ISSN:
1099-0798;
0735-3936
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>This study examines the results of forensic evaluations of 399 children between the ages of 8 and 15 who were seen at an urban evaluation center regarding allegations of sexual abuse. Data collected included demographic, family environment, and abuse variables, outcome of a multidisciplinary forensic evaluation, and psychological distress as measured by the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC Briere, in press). Children were grouped according to the outcome of the evaluation: nonabused, abused‐disclosing, and abused‐nondisclosing (composed of children for whom there was external evidence of abuse but who denied being abused). A number of variables predicted group membership, including subject race, sex, cognitive delays, mother's belief or disbelief in the allegation, and psychological distress. Sexually abused children who disclosed abuse reported particularly high levels of distress, abused but nondisclosing children reported the lowest levels, and nonabused children reported intermediate symptom levels. The data are discussed in terms of the role of denial, maternal support, and symptomatology in forensic evaluations.</jats:p>