Group Treatment for Mothers of Sexually Abused Children

Project Title:	Group Treatment for Mothers of Sexually Abused Children
Grant/Contract Number:	R29 MH53241
Type of Project:	Research
Funding Agency:	National Institute of Mental Health
Agency Contact Person:	Euthymia Hibbs, Ph.D. (301) 443-4283
Principal Investigator:	Esther Deblinger, Ph.D.
Mailing Address:	University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine Center for Children's Support 42 East Laurel Road, Suite 3400 Stratford, NJ 08084
Total Project Duration:	09/15/95 to 08/31/98
FY 98 Total Costs:	$156,295
Total Project Budget:	$298,299
Child Maltreatment Focus:	Primary
Type of Abuse:	Sexual
Sample Size:	100
Age of Subjects:	Adults, children 2-8 years old
Child Abuse and Neglect Focus of This Project:	Treatment and Preventive Interventions
Summary

This 3-year grant is to develop and preliminarily assess the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral group treatment intervention for the nonoffending mother of a child, ages 2 to 8 years, who has experienced sexual abuse. The intervention focuses on aiding the mother to cope more adequately with the child's disclosure of sexual abuse, to display more appropriate responses to abuse-related cognitions, emotional reactions, and behaviors, and to manage the child's postdisclosure behavior. The child will simultaneously participate in a structured cognitive-behavioral individual treatment intervention focused on the child's coping responses and abuse-related behavior. Assessment of efficacy will include assessment of (a) maternal coping style, distress level, and parenting practices; (b) child psychological functioning, coping behaviors, sexualized behaviors, and posttraumatic stress symptoms; and (c) parent-child interaction. Outcomes will be compared to a less structured supportive group intervention.