Self- and Other-Directed Destructive Behaviors: Assessment and Relationship to Type of Abuse

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An accumulation of empirical evidence suggests that abused children are more likely to engage in destructive behaviors than are their nonmaltreated peers. This study explored whether type of abuse experienced (i.e., sexual vs. physical) was related to the type of destructive behavior displayed by children who had been placed in foster care. Results indicated that physically abused youth reported engaging in more other-directed destructive behaviors than did sexually abused youth. Sexually abused children reported engaging in more self-than other-directed destructive behaviors. Although non-significant, this same pattern of findings was observed in parental reports. When examining these relationships within gender, similar results were obtained. The results suggest that the type of destructive behavior is differentially related to the type of abuse experienced. Further study is needed to clarify the relationship between the type of abuse and the type of destructive behaviors.