Cognitions and Distress in Caregivers after Their Child's Sexual Abuse Disclosure

Abstract

The impact of child sexual abuse on children is well documented, but few studies have examined the impact of a child's sexual abuse disclosure on maternal caregivers. The studies that have been conducted suggest that parental response postdisclosure is variable. The present study examined the association between maternal attributions and abuse-specific cognitions with depression and trauma symptoms postdisclosure. Participants included 68 nonoffending maternal caregivers of children between the ages of 3 and 17 years who experienced child sexual abuse. Findings indicated that caregivers' abuse-specific cognitions were the best predictor of self-reported symptoms of depression after controlling for general negative attributions. These findings suggest that in order to reduce caregivers' distress and to enhance their support of their children, it is important to assess and treat caregivers' abuse-specific cognitions.

Keywords:

• child sexual abuse
• maternal caregiver distress
• PTSD
• depression
• general attributions
• abuse-specific attributions

Acknowledgments

The authors would first and foremost like to thank the CARES Institute staff, students and postdoctoral appointees who assisted in the collection of this data. A special acknowledgement to Leah Behl, PhD, Beth Cooper, MS, Brittney Kohlberger, and Susan L. Smith, PhD, for their editorial comments and formatting of this manuscript and to Drs. Esther Deblinger and Robert Steer for their helpful comments. The authors would also like to thank Drs. Bruce Zahn, Katherine Miller, and Robert DiTomasso at the Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine for their helpful feedback regarding this project. A special thanks to Ms. Noelle Davis and Ms. Jan Sands who assisted with the preparation of the manuscript.