Risk, resilience, and the rorschach: a longitudinal study of children who experienced sexual abuse

J Pers Assess. 2013;95(6):600-9. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2013.823437. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

Abstract

Experiencing sexual abuse increases the risk that children will report or otherwise demonstrate problems with emotion, behavior, and health. This longitudinal study of 44 children who experienced sexual abuse examined whether information processing as assessed via the Rorschach Inkblot Test was associated with child-reported depression symptoms assessed via the Children's Depression Inventory (Kovacs, 1992) concurrently and an average of 15 months later. Children whose Rorschach protocols were relatively free of scores suggesting intense distress, complex processing, and sexual content were more likely to experience remission of depression symptoms at follow-up. Findings provide incremental validity for certain Rorschach indexes to inform prognosis regarding depression symptoms and perhaps their treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / therapy*
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Depression / diagnosis*
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / prevention & control
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Rorschach Test
  • Social Adjustment