Cognitive Functioning and Social Competence as Predictors of Maladjustment in Sexually Abused Girls

In order to explain some of the variability in the degree of maladjustment exhibited by sexually abused children, behavior problems, social competence and cognitive functioning were assessed in 53 abused Black girls aged 5 through 16 years. Internalizing dysfunction was positively related to three cognition-related variables: intellectual functioning, academic achievement, and age. Anxiety specifically about the abuse was positively related to age. Parent-reported self-blame for the abuse was associated with high scores on the intellectual, academic, and emotional distress measures. Thus cognitively advanced victims seemed to experience more emotional distress. Externalizing dysfunction was associated with low social competence. Sexual acting out was associated with emotional distress, overt behavior disturbance, and low social competence. These results suggest that internal, subject variables affect the degree of dysfunction exhibited by sexually abused children.