Étude préliminaire d'une nouvelle méthode de cotation du dessin de la famille chez les enfants d'âge préscolaire agressés sexuellement
This study assesses whether scores on the family drawing, derived with a new scoring method, can predict the presence of internalized and externalized behavior problems among sexually abused children. A family drawing was completed by 78 sexually abused children. The non-offending parent completed the Child Behavior Checklist 1½-5 (Achenbach & Rescola, 2000), the Index of Psychological Distress (Ilfeld, 1976), and a questionnaire on stressful events that their child may have experienced. The results indicate that a higher score on the family drawing is associated with a higher probability of clinical thresholds for internalized and externalized behavior problems in children who have been sexually abused, even when controlling for parents’ psychological distress, child’s age, number of stressful events experienced by the child, and type of abuse. This new scoring method may offer relevant information in the context of assessment of internalized and externalized behavior problems for preschoolers who disclosed sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse Children Assessment/evaluation Clinical issues