Sexually and Physically Abused Foster Care Children and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Published in: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology Vol. 67; no. 3; pp. 367 - 373
• Main Authors: Dubner, Allison E, Motta, Robert W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-06-1999
• Subjects: Abuse; Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse - psychology; Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology; Comparison; Female; Foster care; Foster Children; Foster Home Care - psychology; Human; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Physical Abuse; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychological Tests; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Sex crimes; Sexual Abuse; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stroop Effect; Victimology; Human; Posttraumatic syndrome; Violence; Anxiety disorder; Foster care placement; Victimology; Preadolescent; Stress; Child abuse; Adolescent; Early traumatism; Sexual abuse; Child; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0022-006X; 1939-2117
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.67.3.367

Considerable debate exists regarding the possible relationship between child abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, 3 groups of foster care children were compared. The groups included 50 sexually abused, 50 physically abused, and 50 nonabused foster care children. Participants completed the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Reaction Index, the Childhood PTSD Interview, and the Modified Stroop Procedure (MSP), which included sexual abuse and nonsexual abuse stimuli. The MSP has not been previously used in child abuse research. Results indicated that sexually and physically abused children demonstrated PTSD at a high level. The MSP discriminated between the sexually abused children with PTSD and those without PTSD. Responses to the MSP sexual abuse stimuli resulted in significantly longer color-naming times than responses to nonsexual abuse stimuli. Preadolescents demonstrated more severe PTSD than early adolescent children.