Evaluation of a Sexual Abuse Prevention Workshop for Parents of Young Children

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of an educational workshop designed to inform parents about childhood sexual abuse (CSA), promote parent–child communication, and help parents create molester-free environments for their children. Forty-seven parents of young children (mean age = 4.6 years) completed preworkshop questionnaires, participated in a 3-hour parent educational workshop led by a CSA prevention expert, and were tested 1 month later. Parents who attended the workshop gained knowledge about CSA and reported increased communication with their children about CSA. This study provided evidence that a relatively brief parent educational program can improve parents' knowledge and ability to talk with their children about personal safety. Suggestions for future program development and evaluation are provided.

Keywords:

• childhood sexual abuse
• parent–child communication
• prevention

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Jennifer Dempsey and Feather Berkower for their assistance on this project.