SELF-ESTEEM, DEPRESSION, BEHAVIOR AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING IN SEXUALLY ABUSED-CHILDREN

Eighty-four sexually abused children and their families, were compared with controls to look at short-term effects of sexual abuse. The abus e group had more marital breakdown, unemployment, communication proble ms within the family and poor maternal mental health. The abused child ren had more depression, low self-esteem and behaviour disorder, There was no relationship between intrafamilial abuse and depression, self- esteem or behaviour disorder. More severe abuse was related to low sel f-esteem and children's negative perceptions of their mothers. In plan ning treatment the child's relationship to the perpetrator may need le ss emphasis, with more on self-esteem, depression, family functioning and the child's perceptions of the family.