This study investigated the nature of the relationship among child sexual abuse, interpersonal relationship capacity and psychological adjustment. Interpersonal relationship capacity included the constructs of attachment, measured by the Relationship Questionnaire, and object relations functioning, measured by the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory. Psychological adjustment included the constructs of trauma-related symptoms, measured by the Trauma Symptom Inventory and supplemented by the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, and interpersonal problems, measured by the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Participants were 118 women from a clinical and community sample, including 58 women who reported a history of child sexual abuse and 60 women who reported no such history. Thirty-three women reported a history of intrafamilial child sexual abuse or both intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse and 26 women reported a history of extrafamilial child sexual abuse only. The pattern of results indicated that child sexual abuse predicted both interpersonal relationship capacity and psychological adjustment and that interpersonal relationship capacity predicted psychological adjustment. In addition, a mediational model in which interpersonal relationship capacity mediates the relationship between child sexual abuse and psychological adjustment was supported. This suggests that relationship capacity may be a process through which the impact of child sexual abuse influences later psychological adjustment. No differences were found between women who had experienced intrafamilial child sexual abuse and women who had experienced extrafamilial child sexual abuse. When the separate components of each construct in the model were considered, attachment mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and trauma-related symptoms and also mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and interpersonal problems. Object relations functioning mediated the relationship between child sexual abuse and trauma-related symptoms, but did not mediate the relationship between child sexual abuse and interpersonal problems. Again, no differences were found between women who had experienced intrafamilial child sexual abuse and women who had experienced extrafamilial child sexual abuse. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for appropriate therapy approaches with survivors of child sexual abuse. / Graduate

M.A. / The study aimed to investigate the subjective experiences of sexually abused children who testify in criminal courts in South Africa. As few research studies have addressed this problem, particularly from a qualitative perspective, the researcher identified a need to explore the issue further. In addition, it was believed that it would be useful to examine the topic from a both-and perspective. In other words, to investigate the positive and the negative aspects of the experience. The impact of other systems, such as courtroom preparation programmes, and individuals on the research participants was also addressed by the study. The researcher's intention was to honour the four participant's individual narratives. Thus, working from a social constructionist framework was appropriate, as such a framework highlights the existence of multiple realities. Although there are similarities across the four narratives, each one represents a unique reality as experienced by the respective participants. The following points reflect some of the most salient findings of the research: • There appears to be a strong link between receiving positive support and coping with the task of testifying. • Attending a courtroom preparation programme seems to impact very favourably on a child's ability to testify in criminal court. • Testifying in sexual abuse cases can be both traumatic or stressful, for example, having to see and identify the alleged perpetrator, and healing or empowering, for example, being able to put an end to the abuse by speaking out. • Courtroom reforms have gone a long way towards improving conditions for child witnesses. Nevertheless, the current situation is still far from ideal as many inconsistencies and obstacles characterize the legal domain as it relates to child witnesses. • The participants emphasized that they have a right to be respected and heard. In order to respect and satisfy the rights and needs of child witnesses, further research needs to be undertaken to ascertain their actual needs. Children need to become active participants in the reform process.

Psychobiographical researchers methodically formulate life histories and interpret them by means of psychological theories. The research typically focuses on exemplary and completed lives. The cases that are studied are usually of individuals who are of particular interest to society as a result of excelling in their particular fields, be they to society’s benefit or detriment. Antwone Fisher was chosen for this study using purposive sampling as he meets the psychobiographical requirement of being an extraordinary individual. Fisher grew up in the Foster Care System and faced many abusive experiences as child. Despite difficult beginnings, Fisher developed into a stable and creative adult who excels as a poet, screenwriter and film director. The primary aim of this study is to describe and interpret the life of Antwone Fisher through Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. The data was processed and analysed using Miles and Hubermans’ general view of qualitative analyses as well as Alexander’s method of asking the data questions. This study contributes to the development of psychobiographical research in South Africa as well as to personality and developmental theory.

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive and emotional functioning of neglected, physically abused, and clinical control children between six and thirteen years of age who were referred for testing at the Dallas Child Guidance Clinic.

Verhandeling voorgele ter nakoming van die vereistes vir die graad Magister educationis in die Derartement Opvoedkundige Sielkunde aandie Universiteit van Zululand. Eng = Submitted to the Faculty of Education for the requirements of the Master of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2006. / Afr: Die navorsingsondersoek is onderneem om nie-mishandelende ouers se belewing van hul seksueel getraumatiseerde kinders te bepaal omdat relatief min navqrsing internasionaai daaroor gedoen is en feitiik geen navorsing daaroor in Suid-Afrika beskikbaar is nie. Daar bestaan nie ooreenstemming onder kundiges oor wat as seksuele misbruik beskou word nie en die mening word gehuldig dat 'n definisie daarvan 'n mynveld van vooroordele, voorafopgestelde menings en misleidende inligting is. In hierdie studie word die konsep seksuele traumatisering gebruik. In die literatuurstudie is die rouproses as 'n kategorie gei'dentifiseer waaronder die volgende subkategoriee" resorteer skok en ongeloof, ontkenning, woede, skuldgevoelens en selfverwyt, skaamte en angs, blaam, vrees, depressie, verdriet en ambivalensie. Die ander geidentifiseerde kategoriee is die effek wat die seksueel getraumatiseerde kinders het op hul ouers se werk, kognitiewe dissonansie, sekondere traumatisering, herviktimitisering weens verskyning in die hof en posttraumatiese stresversteuring. Terme soos "gesond", "tipies", "nonnaal" en "funksioneel", wat afwisselend gebruik word, dra by tot die problematiek rondom die beskrywing van 'n gesin. Die terme funksionele en disfonksionele gesinne word vanuit die algemene sisteemteorie se perspektief vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie aanvaar. Belewing, as 'n konsep waarop die studie gebou is, maak 'n belangrike deel daarvan uit, aangesien die ouers se belewing as skakel dien met hul seksueel getraumatiseerde kind. Wat verantwoordbare hulpverlening en steun aan seksueel getraumatiseerde kinders en hul gesinne betref, vind staatstrakture dit vanwee finansiele tekorte moeilik om hul ontwerpprotokolle te implementeer. Sommige instellings (nie-regeringsorganisasies) kwyt hulle goed van hul taak betreffende hulpverlening en steun aan seksueel getraumatiseerde kinders en hul ouers. Eng:= The research was undertaken to determine the experiences of non-abusive parents who have to deal with their sexually traumatised child. Internationally, there is relatively little research done on the subject and, in South Africa, almost none. Experts have failed to agree on the concept of sexual abuse. The opinion is that definitions thereof often include prejudices, predetermined meanings, and misleading information. In this study, the concept of sexual traumatisation is used. In the literacy review, the grief process has been identified as a category that consists of the following subcategories: shock and disbelief, denial, anger, guilt feelings, self-recrimination, shame and anxiety, inappropriate blame, depression, sadness, and ambivalence. The other identified categories are the effect of the sexually abused children on their parents' work, cognitive dissonance, secondary traumatisation, revictimisation due to court appearance, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Terms like "health", "types", "normal" and "functional", which are used interchangeably, contribute towards the problematic nature of describing a family. For this study, the terms "functional" and "dysfunctional families" was adopted from the perspective of the general systems theory. Experience, as a concept on which the study was built, forms an important part thereof, since the parents' experiences serve as a link with their sexually traumatised child. Regarding responsible and effective therapeutic intervention and programmes for sexually traumatised children and their families, state structures find it difficult to implement their design protocols due to financial constraints. Some institutions (non-governmental organisations) are doing well in their task of therapeutic intervention and support to sexually traumatised children and their families.

One characteristic of abused children that is often observed but not yet empirically examined is social hypervigilance. In this study, 20 abused and 20 distressed children were compared using WISC-R subtests, two measures of locus of control and need for attention.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2006. / Title from title page screen, viewed on June 7, 2007. Dissertation Committee: Connie Horton (chair), Adena Meyers, Dan Greybill, Susan Smith. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-139) and abstract. Also available in print.