MOTHERS OF MOLESTED CHILDREN - SOME COMPARISONS OF PERSONALITY-CHARACTERISTICS

The Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ) was used to study the person ality characteristics of three groups of mothers: one whose children h ad been molested by a family member (n = 13), a second group whose chi ldren had been molested by a teacher (n = 15), and a group of control mothers whose children had not been molested (n = 12). There were few disparities between the two groups of mothers of molested children. Wh en the molested groups were combined and compared to controls, they di ffered on only one scale measuring normal personality functioning. Sig nificant differences between mothers of molested children and control mothers were found on 7 of the 12 scales measuring abnormal functionin g. In addition, significant correlations were obtained between mother' s scores and children's scores on the Adjustment scale of the Personal ity Inventory for Children (PIC). Results were discussed in terms of t he lack of differences between the two molested groups, the role of mo thers in sexual abuse, and the relationship of maternal clinical sympt oms to child maladjustment.