THE EVALUATION OF FRANCO-QUEBEC VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND THEIR MOTHERS - THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STANDARD ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL

Objective: There were two aims: first, to evaluate the feasibility of applying a standard assessment protocol to Franco-Quebec victims of ch ild sexual abuse and nonoffending mothers; and second, to compare resu lts from an initial sample with available data from English-speaking s amples. Method: A standard individual case study design was used for v ictims and mothers, and the satisfaction of the nine participating you th workers was assessed. Four self-report instruments for victims and five for mothers were chosen on the bases of workers' priorities, sens itivity to the impact of CSA, and the availability of published norms on English-speaking samples. Results are reported on 48 confirmed vict ims and 40 nonoffending mothers. Results: The protocol was favorably r eceived by the CPS workers, supervisors and all mothers and victims. P ercentages of clinically distressed victims varied from highs of 68% o n the externalization difficulties of the Child Behavior Checklist and 67% for 2- to 6-year-olds on the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, to lows of 10% on hostility symptoms and 13% on the Dissociation Scale of the Trauma Symptom Check for Children. The rate of symptom-free child ren was lower (19%) and that of revictimization higher (30%) than most published estimates (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, & Finkelhor, 1993). M ost mothers reported elevated emotional distress (depression, 59%) and symptoms of post-traumatic stress (intrusiveness, 67%). Although 87% of mothers believed the allegations, only 45% offered adequate emotion al support. Conclusion: The implementation phase of this research was successful, given the positive reactions of workers and clients. Resul ts on standard instruments from this French-speaking sample were simil ar to profiles of English-speaking victims and their mothers but firm conclusions on appropriate norms will require larger samples, cross cu ltural contrasts, and the evaluation of additional variables. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.