CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS - PSYCHOLOGICAL AND FAMILIAL FUNCTIONING

Objective: This research examined demographic and functional character istics of parents of children with sexual behavior problems. Method: F amilies of 72 children with sexual behavior problems completed a struc tured interview and several psychometric devices at intake into a trea tment outcome study. Results: As a group, caregivers manifested signs of a high level of life stress across a wide array of variables, inclu ding income, criminal arrest, family violence, sexual abuse, social su pport, modulation of emotion, and attachment to their child. Foster pa rents consistently reported significantly lower levels of stress than biological parents. Conclusion: Parents and families of children with sexual behavior problems appear multiply entrapped. They are highly di stressed and somewhat isolated. The data convincingly demonstrate that in order to maximize the efficacy of treatment for children with sexu al behavior problems, parents must be centrally involved and receive s ervices coordinated with those of their child. Group treatment may be advisable to foster formation of a network of peer support for caregiv ers of children with sexual behavior problems. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.