Self-Blame, Shame, Avoidance, and Suicidal Ideation in Sexually Abused Adolescent Girls: A Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT

Depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation are among the most prevalent problems associated with sexual abuse. Based on the Traumagenic dynamic of stigmatization model, the aim of this study was to investigate whether self-blame, shame, and maladaptive coping strategies predicted posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among sexually abused adolescent girls using a longitudinal design. A total of 100 adolescent girls completed a series of questionnaires at the initial visit at the intervention center (T1) and 6 months later (T2). Path analysis reveals shame at T1 predicted posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms at T2 whereas self-blame at T1 predicted depressive symptoms at T2. Furthermore, avoidance coping at T1 and depressive symptoms at T2 predicted suicidal ideation at T2 and accounted for 54% of the variance. These findings suggest that interventions designed for sexually abused adolescent girls should target shame, self-blame, and avoidance coping to foster recovery in this vulnerable population.

KEYWORDS:

• Child sexual abuse
• adolescent girls
• self-blame
• shame
• coping strategies
• avoidance
• PTSD
• suicidal ideation
• depression

Additional information

Funding

This research was conducted as part of the first author’s PhD thesis and was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) awarded to Martine Hébert, PI [#103944]. The first author was supported by scholarships from the Sexual and Violence Team (ÉVISSA), the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Société et Culture (FRQSC).

Notes on contributors

Stéphanie Alix

Stéphanie Alix, BS, is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research interests concern the factors influencing the impact of sexual abuse in adolescent girls.

Louise Cossette

Louise Cossette, PhD, is professor in the Department of Psychology at Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research interests concern gender and emotional development.

Mireille Cyr

Mireille Cyr, PhD, is full professor in the Department of Psychology at Université de Montréal, Québec, and director of the Centre de recherche sur les problèmes conjugaux et les agressions sexuelles (CRIPCAS: Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse).

Jean-Yves Frappier

Jean-Yves Frappier, MD, FRCPC, MSC, is professor and director at the Pediatric Department of the Université de Montréal and Centre hospitalier universitaire Ste-Justine in Montréal.

Pier-Olivier Caron

Pier-Olivier Caron, PhD, is professor in the Department of Human Sciences, Letters and Communications at Université TÉLUQ.

Martine Hébert

Martine Hébert, PhD (Psychology), is the Canada Research Chair in Interpersonal Traumas and Resilience. She is full professor in the Department of Sexology at Université du Québec à Montréal and director of the Research Team Équipe violence et santé (ÉVISSA: Research Team on Sexual Violence and Health).