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Hospitalized adolescents' reports of sexual and physical abuse: A comparison of two self‐report measures
Author(s) -
Lipschitz Deborah S.,
Bernstein David P.,
Winegar Robert K.,
Southwick Steven M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1024717117960
Subject(s) - sexual abuse , psychological abuse , physical abuse , clinical psychology , ctq tree , psychology , suicidal ideation , psychopathology , psychiatry , child abuse , likert scale , poison control , neglect , suicide prevention , medicine , domestic violence , developmental psychology , medical emergency
This study assesses the consistency of adolescents' reports of sexual and physical abuse via two self‐report questionnaires with different measurement approaches and examines demographic and psychopathological characteristics that influence abuse reporting. Seventy adolescent inpatients completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (Likert‐type items are summed to form dimensional scales, and cutoff scores determine abuse status), the Traumatic Events Questionnaire—Adolescents (multiple‐choice items determine abuse status) and measures of depression, suicidal ideation, and dissociative symptoms. Consistent reports of physical and sexual abuse were given by 86% and 71% of youngsters, respectively. Discrepant reporters of sexual abuse were significantly more likely to be male, whereas consistent reporters were significantly more depressed and suicidal and reported higher levels of sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect. Adolescents, for the most part, were consistent in their responses about sexual and physical abuse on both a Likert scale and a direct‐answer‐format questionnaire. The CTQ had a lower threshold for detection of sexual abuse, particularly for boys.