Self-blame for interparental conflict among female adolescents who have been sexually abused.

This study evaluated whether self-blame appraisals for interparental conflict relate to conduct problems among female adolescents who have been sexually abused. Participants included female adolescents who had experienced sexual abuse and a current, primary nonabusing caregiver. Families presented for services at a children's advocacy center. Female adolescents (N = 263, Age 11-17 years, M = 13.68, SD = 1.74) reported on conduct problems, self-blame appraisals for interparental conflict, self-blame appraisals for their sexual abuse, perceptions of the frequency and severity of interparental conflict, and whether the sexual abuse involved coercion. Caregivers reported on adolescent conduct problems and their contact with a romantic partner. Adolescent relationship to the alleged abuser and the severity and duration of the sexual abuse were coded from forensic interviews and case records. Adolescent self-blame appraisals for interparental conflict were positively associated with adolescent and caregiver reports of adolescent conduct problems. These relations emerged even after controlling for other theoretically important variables, such as self-blame appraisals for sexual abuse. Adolescent appraisals for interparental conflict may be an important target for assessment and intervention for female adolescents who have been sexually abused. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).