William N. Friedrich

Child Sexual Behavior Inventory: Normative and clinical comparisons.

A normative sample of 880 children was contrasted with a sample of 216 sexually abused children on the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI), a 35-item behavior checklist assessing sexual behavior in children 2-12 years old. The CSBI total score differed significantly between the 2 groups after controlling for age, sex, maternal education, and family income, with sexually abused children showing a greater frequency of sexual behaviors than did the normative sample. Test-retest reliability, interitem correlations, cross-validation, and correlations with abuse characteristics were also reported

Child Sexual Behavior Inventory: normative, psychiatric, and sexual abuse comparisons

A normative sample of 1,114 children was contrasted with a sample of 620 sexually abused children and 577 psychiatric outpatients on the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI), a 38-item behavior checklist assessing sexual behavior in children 2 to 12 years old. The CSBI total score and each individual item differed significantly between the three groups after controlling for age, sex, maternal education, and family income. Sexually abused children exhibited a greater frequency of sexual behaviors than either the normative or psychiatric outpatient samples. Test-retest reliability and interitem correlation were satisfactory. Sexual behavior problems were related to other generic behavior problems. This contributed to the reduced discrimination between psychiatric outpatients and sexually abused children when compared to the normative/sexually abused discrimination.

Sexual Victimization and Sexual Behavior in Children: A Review of Recent Literature.

Empirical research pertaining to sexual behavior in sexually abused children, including record reviews, parent ratings, psychological assessment, self-report, and behavioral observation is reviewed and discussed. Sexual behavior is reported significantly more often in sexually abused children than nonabused children. However, the consistency of this finding varies with the research method.

Normative Sexual Behavior in Children: A Contemporary Sample

Objective. Sexual behavior in children can cause uncertainty in the clinician because of the relationship between sexual abuse and sexual behavior. Consequently, it is important to understand normative childhood sexual behavior. Design. Sexual behavior in 1114 2- to 12-year-old children was rated by primary female caregivers. These children were screened for the absence of sexual abuse. A 38-item scale assessing a broad range of sexual behavior (Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, Third Version) was administered along with the Child Behavior Checklist and a questionnaire assessing family stress, family sexuality, social maturity of the child, maternal attitudes regarding child sexuality, and hours in day care. Results. Sexual behavior was related to the childs age, maternal education, family sexuality, family stress, family violence, and hours/week in day care. Frequencies of sexual behaviors for 2- to 5-, 6- to 9-, and 10- to 12-year-old boys and girls are presented. Conclusions. A broad range of sexual behaviors are exhibited by children who there is no reason to believe have been sexually abused. Their relative frequency is similar to two earlier studies, and this reinforces the validity of these results.

Children from Sexually Abusive Families: A Behavioral Comparison

The sexually abused child has been described as more fearful, anxious, depressed, and guilty in comparison to normal children. However, these descriptions are largely derived from clinical impressions and little systematic exploration of the nature and extent of behavior problems among these children. The present study investigated the problem behaviors of a group of preschool and elementary-aged sexually abused children (N = 93) in comparison with a sample of nonabused children from a psychiatric outpatient clinic (N = 64) and a sample of nonabused children from a well child clinic (N = 78). Behavioral strengths and weaknesses in these children were examined by administering the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist to their mothers. Sexually abused children displayed a significantly greater number of behavior problems than normals but were not as significantly disturbed as the psychiatric outpatients. The sexually abused children did display significantly more sexual problems than either comparison group. Caseworkersl therapists for the sexually abused child provided ratings of family conflict, cohesion, and support of the child. These were significantly related to the extent of behavior problems in the sexually abused children. This relationship equaled or exceeded the relationship of severity of sexual abuse to behavior problems.

Human sexual development

Empirical research by scholars from several disciplines provides the basis for an outline of the process of sexual development. The process of achieving sexual maturity begins at conception and ends at death. It is influenced by biological maturation/aging, by progression through the socially‐defined stages of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later life, and by the persons relationships with others, including family members, intimate partners, and friends. These forces shape the persons gender and sexual identities, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior. Adults display their sexuality in a variety of lifestyles, with heterosexual marriage being the most common. This diversity contributes to the vitality of society. Although changes in sexual functioning in later life are common, sexual interest and desire may continue until death.

Behavior Problems in Young Sexually Abused Boys A Comparison Study

A sample of 31 boys sexually assaulted in the previous 18 months was compared on the Child Behavior Checklist with 33 boys who had a diagnosis of oppositional or conduct disorder. The boys ranged in age from 3 to 8 years old. The conduct-disordered boys were being seen in outpatient therapy with their parents. The two groups did differ significantly, with the sexually abused group being less externalizing and more sexualized than the conduct disorder group.

Psychometric Properties of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC) with Psychiatrically Hospitalized Adolescents

A sample of 119 consecutively hospitalized adolescents, including 32 sexually abused teenagers, was assessed with the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Adolescent- Dissociative Experience Scale, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Rorschach, and the Family Environment Scale. The reliability and validity of each of the six TSCC scales and four subscales was determined. Analyses suggest that the individual scales are reliable and significantly intercorrelated. Independent measures of depression, anxiety, anger, and dissociation typically correlated significantly with the reference TSCC scales, and in fact, the Posttraumatic Stress subscale significantly discriminated the sexually abused group from the remainder of the sample. These findings suggested that with a psychiatric sample, the TSCC is a valid measure of distress.

Psychotherapy Outcome of Sexually Abused Boys An Agency Study

A treatment intervention program was developed for young sexually abused boys, and of the 42 boys who began treatment, 33 completed therapy. The treatment approach included a combination of group, individual, parent training, and family therapy. At follow-up, clinical and statistically significant improvements were noted in a number of areas, including overall behavior problems and sexual behavior problems. Therapy outcome was related to a number of family and abuse factors, including maternal depression and social support, family conflict, and severity of abuse.

Report of the ATSA Task Force on Children With Sexual Behavior Problems

The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) Task Force on Children With Sexual Behavior Problems was formed by the ATSA Board of Directors as part of ATSA’s overall mission of promoting effective intervention and management practices for individuals who have engaged in abusive sexual behavior. The task force was charged to produce a report intended to guide professional practices with children, ages 12 and younger. Specifically, the task force was asked to address how assessment should be linked to intervention activities, what intervention models or components are most effective, and the role of family involvement in Report of the ATSA Task Force on Children With Sexual Behavior Problems