Psychometrics of a Child Report Measure of Maternal Support Following Disclosure of Sexual Abuse
Date
2017
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of child sexual abuse
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound child-report measure of maternal support following disclosure of child sexual abuse. Maternal support following disclosure of child sexual abuse is an important predictor of child adjustment; however, this construct is not well defined, and a psychometrically sound method to assess maternal support from a child’s perspective does not exist.
Demographic and abuse-specific information was collected via structured interview from 146 mother-child dyads presenting for an initial forensic evaluation at a child advocacy center. Mothers completed the Maternal Self-report Support Questionnaire, and children completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children and 32 items considered for inclusion in a new measure known as the Maternal Support Questionnaire – Child Report (MSQ-CR).
Exploratory factor analysis of the MSQ-CR resulted in a three factor solution: Emotional Support (9 items), Skeptical Preoccupation (5 items), and Protection/Retaliation (6 items). Each factor demonstrated adequate internal consistency reliability. Analyses with the Maternal Self-report Support Questionnaire and the Trauma Symptom Checklist supported the construct and concurrent validity of the new measure.
The MSQ-CR demonstrated sound psychometric properties. Future research is needed to determine whether the MSQ-CR provides a more sensitive approximation of maternal support following disclosure of sexual abuse, relative to measures of global parent-child relations. Additional research is needed to contextualize discrepancies between mother and child ratings of maternal support. Important limitations of the investigation are reviewed.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
maternal support, child sexual abuse, traumatic stress, measure development
Citation
Smith, D. W., Sawyer, G. K., Heck, N. C., Zajac, K., Solomon, D., Self-Brown, S., Danielson, C. K., … Ralston, M. E. (2017). Psychometrics of a Child Report Measure of Maternal Support following Disclosure of Sexual Abuse. Journal of child sexual abuse, 26(3), 270-287.