Multimethod assessment of depression in sexually abused girls

J Pers Assess. 1990 Fall;55(1-2):234-48. doi: 10.1080/00223891.1990.9674063.

Abstract

This study measured depression in sexually abused Black girls using the Children's Depression Inventory (Kovacs & A. T. Beck, 1977), the Internalization scale of the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1983), and the Rorschach Depression Index (Exner, 1986). There were no significant correlations between these self-report, behavior observation (by parental report), and projective measures. The abused subjects had high scores on the behavior observation and Rorschach scales. Consistent with past research, negative results were obtained with the self-report instrument. We suggest that the low scores on self-report measures of distress produced by sexually abused children may be the result of guardedness or defensiveness rather than a genuinely low level of dysphoria in this population. There were no significant relations between abuse characteristics and scores on the depression measures. Scores on Rorschach measures of organizational activity (Zf) and available coping resources (EA) were generally positively related to depression within the abuse group and negatively related to depression within the control group.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adjustment Disorders / psychology*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Defense Mechanisms
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Personality Assessment*
  • Psychometrics
  • Psychopathology
  • Rorschach Test