Protective factors promoting resilience in the relation between child sexual victimization and internalizing and externalizing symptoms |
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| Institution: | 1. University of Missouri, School of Social Work, 710 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, United States;2. Washington University in St. Louis, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, 1 Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, St. Louis, MO 63130, United States;3. University of York, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK |
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| Abstract: | Sexual victimization has been one of the most frequently studied forms of child victimization. Its effects are common and diverse; however, not all children and youth exposed to sexual victimization eventually develop adjustment problems. A total of 1105 children and youth (590 male and 515 female) aged between 12 and 17 from northeastern Spain were assessed regarding their experiences of sexual victimization, symptoms of psychopathology, and protective factors. The results showed that all forms of sexual victimization were associated with higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems. However, the presence of a low Negative Cognition, high Social Skills and high Confidence seem to act buffering internalizing problems. Additionally, a significant interaction between Sexual Victimization and low Negative Cognition was observed (p < 0.5), so that, low Negative Cognition was related to a lower risk of being in the clinical range for internalizing problems. Likewise, high scores on Empathy/Tolerance, Connectedness to School, Connectedness to Family and low Negative Cognition acted as promotive factors in relation to externalizing symptoms, in this case without any interaction effect. The strong relationship found with emotional and behavioral problems highlights the importance of continuing the research on the protective factors underlying resilience in the relationship between sexual victimization and psychopathological symptoms. The findings also support the multi-dimensional and specific nature of resilience and identify some of the protective factors that should be regarded as key intervention targets in adolescents with a history of sexual victimization. |
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| Keywords: | Sexual victimization Resilience Psychopathology Adolescents Spain |
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