Poster #85 - Coping Strategies Among Sexually Abused Children: A Latent Profile Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 14

Abstract

Context: Current studies reveal that 20% of girls and 14% of boys have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) before the age of 18 (Moody et al., 2018). However, the scientific literature highlights a vast heterogeneity in the adaptation profiles of child victims (Hébert et al., 2021). Indeed, some children appear resilient despite their history of sexual victimization, while others exhibit internalizing or externalizing behavior problems or emotion regulation difficulties. Studies among adult victims of CSA have identified the use of coping strategies as a potential key predictor of these outcomes (Ullman et al., 2014). Indeed, reliance on avoidance strategies which involve cognitive efforts to avoid facing the stressor, is associated with greater symptoms, while approach strategies as efforts to confront the stressor, are linked to better outcomes (Wright et al., 2007). In school-aged children, while there is some evidence of the association between avoidant coping and children’s adaptative functioning, empirical evidence about approach coping has been inconsistent (Littleton, 2007; Spaccarelli, 1994). As intervention programs often target coping strategies, it’s essential to assess how their use is associated with children’s adjustment.
Objectives: Using a person-centered approach to this study aims 1) to discern different patterns of coping strategies that victims of CSA use and 2) to examine whether these patterns are associated with emotion regulation as well as internalizing and externalizing difficulties in school-aged victims of CSA.
Methods: A total of 564 children, 388 girls and 176 boys aged 6 to 12 years (M = 9.10 years, SD = 2.12) were recruited from four specialized centers in Quebec. Emotion regulation was measured by the parent with the Emotion Regulation Checklist (Shields & Cicchetti, 1997) and coping strategies were measured using the Self Report Coping Style (Causey & Dubow, 1992) by the child. Internalizing and externalizing behaviors were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist Form (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) (completed by parent and teacher). Latent class analyses were conducted on Mplus followed by comparison analyses using the Bolk, Croon, Hagenaars (BCH) method (Asparouhov & Muthen, 2014).
Results: The Latent class analysis identified 3 classes: Low coping profile (37.77% of children), High approach and high avoidance profile (19.86% of children), and High approach and low avoidance profile (42.38% of children). The Low coping profile showed greater adaptation on all outcomes. Children assigned to the High approach and high avoidance profile showed more behavioral problems and emotion dysregulation. Children assigned to the Low coping profile and the High approach and high avoidance profile showed similar adaptation, except for internalizing behavior problems, where the second class had higher scores.
Conclusion: As reported in our study, some children may not need to use coping strategies despite their history of sexual victimization. While greater reliance on avoidance strategies is associated with psychological maladjustment, investing in frequent approach strategies is associated with more internalizing problems. Our results suggest that documenting the combination of different coping strategies used by children rather than approach and avoidance strategies separately may offer a more valuable insight on children's adaptive and social-emotional functioning.

Authors

• Ophélie Dassylva, L'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
  Presenting Author

• Laetitia Melissande Amedee

• Martine Hebert, Université du Québec à Montréal