VARIABILITY IN SYMPTOM EXPRESSION AMONG SEXUALLY ABUSED GIRLS - DEVELOPING MULTIVARIATE MODELS

Examined which of several apparent risk variables were predictors of i nternalizing and externalizing problems in 48 girls who were referred for therapy after disclosing sexual abuse. Specifically, the effects o f abuse characteristics, support from nonoffending parents, victims' c oping strategies, and victims' cognitive appraisals on symptomatology were assessed. As hypothesized, results indicated that internalizing a nd externalizing problems were associated with different sets of predi ctor variables. Victims' self-reports of depression and anxiety were r elated to lower perceived suppport from nonoffending parents, more use of cognitive avoidance coping, and more negative appraisals of the ab use. These results were partially replicated when using parent-report measures of depression, but were not replicated for parent reports of victim anxiety. Incest was the only variable that was significantly re lated to parent-reported anxiety. Parent-reported aggressive behaviors were predicted by level of abuse-related stress; and aggression, soci al problems, and sexual problems were all related to the tendency to c ope by controlling others. Social problems were also related to coping by self-distraction Regression analyses were done for each dependent variable to examine which predictors accounted for unique variance whe n controlling for other significant zero-order correlates. Implication s of these results for understanding variability in symptom expression among sexual abuse victims are discussed.