Carol Rippey Massat

Posttraumatic Stress and Mental Health Functioning of Sexually Abused Children

This study examined the relationship between levels of posttraumatic stress and overall mental health functioning of fifty-three sexually abused children. This study analyzes the relationships between the mental health functioning of sexual abuse victims and PTSD, using data collected from the Non-Offending Parents Project. Unlike numerous earlier studies, standardized instruments (the Child Assessment Schedule and the Child Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index) were used for data collection. Data analysis supported the hypothesis that the posttraumatic stress level of children who have been sexually abused is associated with level of child mental health functioning. Nearly all the children in the study were experiencing a clinical level of posttraumatic stress, and were diagnosed as having PTSD. Child Assessment Schedule subscale areas which were related to posttraumatic stress level included worries, physical complaints, moods, school functioning, family, and fears.

The Relationship Between Parent and Child Reports of Parental Supportiveness and Psychopathology of Sexually Abused Children

This study examined the relationship between parent and child reports of supportiveness of intrafamilially sexually abused children and levels of child psychopathology. Fifty-four intrafamilially sexually abused children completed a revised version of the Family Subscale of the Survey of Childrens Social Support and the Child Assessment Schedule. Fifty-four parents completed a version of the Family Subscale of the Survey of Childrens Social Support, modified for use in parental reporting of their own supportive behaviors. Satisfactory reliability levels were obtained for the revised measures. This study of 54 sexually abused children and their non-offending parents found that although most non-offending parents were supportive of their children, the children reported considerable distress. Although there was no significant difference in mean levels of support reported by parents and children, the two measures were not significantly correlated. This suggests that parents and children perceive supportive behavior differently, although both constructs are of importance. Multiple regression analysis found that both child and parent reports of parental support were predictive of levels of child psychopathology, but that child estimates were a stronger predictor.

Service and Support Needs of Non-Offending Parents in Cases of Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse

This article describes the helpfulness and availability of formal and informal services and supports available to 104 non-offending parents in cases of intrafamilial sexual abuse. Though findings include high overall satisfaction with the services that were provided, parents report a gap between their needs and the availability of services. Two measures were used to collect the data: the Maternal Sense of Social Support (MSSI) (Pascoe, Loda, Jeffries, & Earp, 1981), and the Helpfulness Index, adapted from a questionnaire used by Runyan et al. (1992). These data are from the first wave of data collection in a four-year study of non-offending parents and their sexually abused children.

Predictors of Loneliness Among Court-Involved and Substance Abusing Mothers

Abstract This study examined predictors of loneliness among 94 urban mothers with a history of substance abuse and criminal justice involvement. The study replicated the finding that loneliness is significantly related to level of substance abuse. Significant predictors of loneliness included co-occurring conditions of the mother, the number of minors in the home, the level of domestic violence, informal social support, and service satisfaction. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that work with substance abusing mothers involved with the criminal justice system should address multiple ecological levels, including characteristics of the mother and her children, partner relations, and informal and formal social supports.