Sexually and Physically Abused Foster Care Childrren

AUTHOR: Dubner, Allison E. and Motta, Robert W.

TITLE: Sexually and Physically Abused Foster Care Children and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

SOURCE: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1999, Vol. 67, Issn: 3, pp. 367-373

PROBLEM: Every year, 217,700 foster children are confirmed to have been sexually abused and 381,700 to have been physically abused. The primary purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between sexually and physically abused foster children and posttraumatic stress disorder.

INSTRUMENT: Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI) (Frederick, Pynoos & Nader, 1992); Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) (American Psychiatric Association, 1987); DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994); Childhood PTSD Interview (CPI) (Fletcher, in press); The Modified Stroop Procedure (MSP); Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DICA) were the instruments used for this study.

POPULATION: This study included 3 groups; 50 sexually abused, 50 physically abused, and 50 non-abused foster care children. The participants ranged from ages 8 to 19 years of age and were predominantly African American and Hispanic.

PROCEDURE: Letters were sent to the parents/foster parents explaining the purpose of the study. A written consent was obtained from each parent, and interviews were conducted to each child individually after a 10 minute building session of specific questions about the duration and specific nature of the abuse.

ANALYSIS: The CPTSD-RI and CPI results of the foster children were used and combined for a conclusion and diagnosis of PTSD. Using this measure, the results of the concluded PTSD, a significant difference, x2 (2, N = 150) = 21.83, p< .001.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 64% of the sexually abused children, 42% of the physical abused children, and 18% of the children not abused showed symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. In addition, results concluded a...