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.
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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).