Examines family-related factors which affect the psychological adjustment of the child victim of sex abuse. Findings suggest that lower cohesion characterizes families who have a child victim as a member and that a significant positive association exists between the intensity of parent's emotional reaction to the abuse and behavior problems of the…

Examines the psychological implications of a 20-week group counseling program on the self-esteem of sexually abused female adolescents (N=37). Comparing this group program to individual counseling, results indicate that such group counseling programs seem to be a more effective treatment approach than individual counseling programs of comparable…

Analyzes the California Supreme Court case "Randi W. v. Muroc Joint Unified School District." The court determined that letters of recommendation, which had omitted mentioning allegations of improper sexual conduct with students, were deceptively incomplete. Writers of letters have three choices: refuse to write a letter, write a fully…

Child maltreatment articles (n=2090) published from 1977-1998 were reviewed. Across the period studied, quantitative articles and articles on child sexual abuse increased and theoretical articles and articles on physical abuse decreased. Articles examining child neglect or emotional abuse remained consistently low. Participant recruitment from…

Structured group therapy techniques were developed to foster mastery skill development and defense mechanisms in the treatment of eight sexually abused female children, aged six to eight. The techniques included development of intellectualization defenses through board games, cathartic exploration of feelings through art and storytelling, and…

Date and acquaintance rape may be more prevalent on college campuses than in other environments, and colleges are struggling to confront the issue. Sexism and racism contribute to underreporting of and misconceptions about sexual abuse in college settings. Policies, programs, and procedures for combating sexual assaults on campus are recommended.…

College women (N=150) viewed videotaped counseling vignettes varied by feminist orientation of counselor and explicitness of counselor's value statement about her approach. Subjects preferred feminist counselor for career and sexual assault concerns but no significant differences across counselors for personal concerns. Observed significant…

Describes an open-ended, structured, highly intensive therapy group for sexually abused preteen girls that was the primary mode of treatment for 11 girls from low-income, rural White families with numerous problems. Unique features of the group included simultaneous group and individualized goals. (Author/BB)

Criticizes sexual abuse prevention training for preschool children, and analyzes the content of five curricula currently in use in California, North Dakota, and Washington. Recommends greater vigilance by adult caretakers and less reliance on children to identify molestation. (FMW)

Thirty-one child forensic mental health professionals specializing in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse were surveyed to assess their normative evaluation and testimony practices with respect to clinical interviews and child psychosocial assessment. Survey questions covered the evaluation process and methods, the limits of expert…

Examines the acceptance of, and expectations of, sexual aggression in common dating situations for 546 college students who completed a measure of rape acceptance beliefs. Results suggest that a consensus on definitions of unacceptable behavior is emerging among males and females, although differences in expectations remain. (SLD)

A careful review of research suggests that the problem of sexual assault has been magnified and the data misinterpreted, in part because the issue of sexual violence against women has become enmeshed in politics. The current trend in sexual-violence research is to redefine it according to the ideological preferences of advocates. (SLD)

Studied verbal disclosure of abuse in a sample of 28 children who presented with purely physical complaints later diagnosed as a sexually transmitted disease. Only 43 percent gave any verbal confirmation of sexual contact. Disclosure was strongly associated with the attitude taken by the child's caretaker toward the possibility of abuse. (RJM)

George Washington University (District of Columbia), already under fire for recruiting a basketball player who pleaded guilty to sexual assault, has also drawn criticism for offering an academic scholarship to his victim. The athlete has met academic requirements to earn a grant and to play in his freshman year. (MSE)

This study examined the self-reported parenting experience and practices of women who were either incest victims of their fathers as children (n=20), whose fathers were alcoholic but not sexually abusive (n=25), or who had no known risk in childhood (n=39). Incest survivors reported less confidence and sense of control as parents. (Author/DB)