Psychosocial factors predicting parent reported symptomatology in sexually abused children

The current study aimed to identify factors that may influence nonoffending mothers' reports of their sexually abused children's symptomatology (N = 96). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify variables which contributed unique variance to maternal reports of children's symptomatology. The results indicated that maternal belief in the allegations and physical abuse perpetrated by the sexual offender contributed unique variance to the number of post-traumatic stress symptoms reported. Child's age and physical abuse by the sexual offender contributed unique variance to parental reports of internalizing behaviors. Child's sex and maternal distress contributed unique variance to maternal reports of externalizing behaviors. Implications of the current findings are discussed.