Coping with sexual abuse: Development and evaluation of a videotape intervention for nonoffending parents

Objective: The aims of the study were: (1) to develop, apply, and evaluate a videotape intervention that targeted the development of supportive behavi ors in mothers of children who were being examined because of suspected mol estation; and (2) to examine the relationship between mothers' reported res ponses to and beliefs about the molestation and their children's perception s of support. Method: Mothers (N = 87) who had children 4 to 12 years of age were recruit ed and randomly assigned to view either a treatment or control videotape du ring the time when their child was being examined. Observers who were blind ed to this assignment observed and rated parent-child interactions in the w aiting room prior to and again after the mothers viewed the videotape. One week after this brief intervention, 64 of the mothers and 30 of the childre n (8- to 12-years-old) were interviewed. Results: Mothers who viewed the treatment tape were more likely to engage i n supportive behaviors with their child immediately after viewing the tape, and were able to identify more supportive behaviors at the 1-week followup . In addition, mothers' reports of how they responded to the molestation (i ncluding perceived blame) was related to child perceptions of parental supp ort. Conclusions: The findings indicate that children who have been sexually mol ested are sensitive to the initial reactions of their nonoffending parent t o the disclosure. In addition, there is some evidence that we can design an d deliver cost-effective interventions during the early disclosure period t hat promote more positive (or supportive) responses by the nonoffending par ent. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.