Abuse-Related Attributions and Perceptions, General Attributions, and Locus of Control in Sexually Abused Girls

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine abuse-related attributions and perceptions, general attributions, and locus of control and their impact on psychological symptomatology in sexually abused girls. Seventy-seven abused girls ages 7 to 12 and 88 normal controls were administered the Children's Attributions and Perceptions Scale (CAPS), Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ), and the Locus of Control Scale for children (LCSC). There were significant group differences on all of the CAPS subscales and the “bad event” factor of the CASQ, with the abused group endorsing significantly more abuse-related attributions and perceptions and general attributions than controls. Furthermore, correlational and regression analyses demonstrated that in the sexually abused group, abuse-related attributions and perceptions were the most significantly related to and predictive of self-reported psychological symptomatology. Clinical and research implications are discussed in the context of the evolving literature on those factors that effect the psychological adjustment of victimized children.

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