Citation

Kravic JN. J. Fam. Violence 1987; 2(2): 111-120.

Affiliation

Graham B. Dimmick Child Guidance Clinic, 201 Mechanic Street, 40507 Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF00977036

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Research concerning the behavior and social problems of abused children has yielded mixed results. Understanding the psychological impact that abuse has on these children, however, is crucial to appropriate treatment. In this study, 18 abused, 20 nonabused but troubled, and 21 nonabused control children, ages 6 to 12 years, who are clients of a child guidance clinic were compared on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Descriptive information including the severity, duration, and recency of the abuse was also compiled for the abused subjects to aid in the data analysis. The results varied from original expectations. The data clearly showed that both the abused and troubled children had more behavior problems and were less socially competent than their control group peers, but aggressiveness was the only behavior problem of thirteen clusters analyzed that distinguished the three groups. The results are discussed in terms of their application to the understanding of the abuse-trauma syndrome and the treatment of these children.