Stress Effects on Physical Health of Mothers of Sexually Abused Children.

详细信息   

• 作者：Langston ; Mary Ellen.
• 学历：Doctor
• 年：2011
• 导师：Haussmann, Robert E.,eadvisor
• 毕业院校：Northcentral University
• ISBN：9781267037480
• CBH：3486052
• Country：USA
• 语种：English
• FileSize：15214357
• Pages：366

文摘

Mothers are secondary victims in child sexual abuse (CSA) and experience debilitating effects following disclosure of a child's abuse. Prior studies have shown that many mothers of sexually abused children develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that post-disclosure somatic symptoms are common. Maternal support of the abused child is a strong predictor of the child's recovery, and maternal stress and illness can impair support. Knowledge of mediators and moderators to maternal stress response will assist professionals in providing effective services to mothers. This quantitative study examined acute and posttrauma symptoms in mothers of sexually abused children. The sample consisted of 149 women who visited a website targeted at mothers of sexually abused children (www.mosac.net) and completed a survey. The survey included three instruments: the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ), PTSD Checklist-Specific Version (PCL-S), and Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15). Additional questions accessed information about demographic, maternal, and sexual abuse characteristics. Research shows that dissociation is highly correlated to trauma, posttrauma, and somatic symptoms. It was hypothesized that acute dissociation would predict the development of somatic symptoms in mothers. Multiple regression examined posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) as a mediator between acute dissociation and somatic symptoms. Criteria for full mediation of PTSS was met, F (2, 105) ＝ 35.31, p <； .001. Significant relationships were found between dissociation and somatic symptoms, r (108) ＝ .349, p <； .001； dissociation and PTSS, r (118) ＝ .589, p <； .001: and PTSS and somatic symptoms, r (116) ＝ .633, p <； .001. Prior studies examined maternal history of CSA and relationship to the perpetrator with mixed findings. Multiple regression tested the potential moderator relationships of CSA and relationship to perpetrator, to dissociation, PTSS, and somatic symptoms. In these investigations, findings were not significant. CSA history was significantly related to domestic violence (DV), maternal mental health, medical history, and social support. Results of this study support prior research findings, showing acute and chronic stress symptoms in mothers following disclosure. Psychological and physical health interventions with mothers will result in better outcomes for mothers and children. Future research recommendations include replication of this study.