Efficacy of an intervention among adolescent girl victims of sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide issue linked to multiple psychological and relational consequences. Studies have shown that adolescent girls are particularly at risk of experiencing CSA. To improve the potential benefits of interventions designed for CSA victims, studies have investigated factors related to their effectiveness. Studies have explored the possible role of the number of victimizations experienced on treatment gains, but few have analyzed this possible impact on group intervention offered to adolescents. Thus, the aims of the study were: to evaluate the effects of a psychoeducational group intervention and to identify the impact of the number of victimization forms on the evolution of symptoms following the intervention. Participants were 44 adolescent girl victims of sexual abuse (M = 14.93 years old, SD = 1.47), recruited in a specialized intervention center ("Centre d'intervention en abus sexuels pour la famille"). They completed questionnaires that assessed behavioral problems, posttraumatic stress symptoms, dissociation symptoms and feelings of guilt, before and after their participation in the group intervention. Results revealed that participation in the psychoeducational group intervention was associated to a significant reduction of psychological symptoms, except for externalizing behavior problems. Regression analyses showed that a greater number of victimization forms predicted a poorer evolution for several symptoms. In sum, while the psychoeducational intervention was found to significantly reduce symptoms, considering adolescents' multiple victimization experiences might improve treatment outcomes in teenage girls. (C) 2020 Sexologies. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.