Persistent and Transitory Sexualized Behavior Problems in Children

• Published in: Child psychiatry and human development Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 621 - 631
• Main Authors: Ensink, K., Godbout, N., Bigras, N., Lampron, J., Sabourin, S., Normandin, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-08-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abused children; Behavior Problems; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology; Child and School Psychology; Child Behavior Disorders - psychology; Child development; Child sexual abuse; Child, Preschool; Children; Clinical significance; Female; Humans; Internalization; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Original Article; Problem Behavior - psychology; Psychiatry; Psychology; Questionnaires; Sexual behavior; Sexualization; Surveys and Questionnaires; Childhood sexual abuse; Internalized behaviors; Externalized behaviors; Risk factors; Sexual behavior problems
• ISSN: 0009-398X; 1573-3327
• DOI: 10.1007/s10578-017-0778-0

The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the course of sexualized behavior problems (SBP) over 2 years in a sample comprised of 104 children aged 2–12, including 62 children with histories of child sexual abuse (CSA). Parents completed questionnaires assessing SBP, internalizing and externalizing difficulties at baseline, as well as 2 years later. In more than half (56.7%) of children with clinically significant SBP at baseline, sexualized behaviors persisted and remained at a clinically significant level over time. In children with CSA, 48.4% presented persistent SBP, 27.4% presented transitory SBP, while 19.4% did not present clinically significant SBP at either time. CSA increased the relative risk of persistent SBP 3.29 times, and for each one-unit increase in scores of externalizing difficulties, the odds of persistent SBP increased by 21%. The findings suggest that SBP consequent to CSA, especially when it co-occurs with externalizing difficulties, is likely to remain at levels warranting clinical intervention.