Child Abuse and Neglect
Volume 79, 2018, Pages 269-278

Predicting running away in girls who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation (Article)

Hershberger A.R.* , Sanders J. , Chick C. , Jessup M. , Hanlin H. , Cyders M.A.
  • a Indiana University – Purdue University, Department of Psychology, 402 North Blackford St., LD126, Indianapolis, IN 46143, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 5665 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Room 422, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
  • c Indiana University – Purdue University, Department of Psychology, 402 North Blackford St., LD126, Indianapolis, IN 46143, United States
  • d Ascent 121, P.O. Box 1143, Carmel, IN 46082, United States
  • e Ascent 121, P.O. Box 1143, Carmel, IN 46082, United States
  • f Indiana University – Purdue University, Department of Psychology, 402 North Blackford St., LD126, Indianapolis, IN 46143, United States

Abstract

Youth that are victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) have a host of clinical problems and often run away from home, residential care, and treatment, which complicates and limits treatment effectiveness. No research to date has attempted to predict running away in CSEC victims. The present study aimed to 1) characterize a clinically referred sample of girls who were victims of CSEC and compare them to other high-risk girls (i.e., girls who also have a history of trauma and running away, but deny CSEC); and 2) examine the utility of using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) to predict future running away. Data were collected from de-identified charts of 80 girls (mean age = 15.38, SD = 1.3, 37.9% White, 52.5% CSEC victims) who were referred for psychological assessment by the Department of Child Services. Girls in the CSEC group were more likely to have experienced sexual abuse (χ 2 = 6.85, p =.009), an STI (χ 2 = 6.45, p =.01), a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis (χ 2 = 11.84, p =.001), and a substance use disorder diagnosis (χ 2 = 11.32, p =.001) than high-risk girls. Moderated regression results indicated that YLS/CMI scores significantly predicted future running away among the CSEC group (β = 0.23, SE =.06, p =.02), but not the high-risk group (β = −.008, SE =.11, p =.90). The YLS/CMI shows initial promise for predicting future running away in girls who are CSEC victims. Predicting running away can help identify those at risk for and prevent running away and improve treatment outcomes. We hope current findings stimulate future work in this area. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Author Keywords

Youth level of service/case management inventory Running away Commercial sexual exploitation of children Girls CSEC

Index Keywords

Parents Child Abuse, Sexual sexual behavior psychological aspect internal consistency homeless person human psychologic assessment statistics and numerical data controlled study Substance-Related Disorders social support drug dependence Humans psychology Adolescent female prediction reproducibility Reproducibility of Results sexual exploitation interrater reliability child sexual abuse sexual abuse human trafficking Article major clinical study running posttraumatic stress disorder Homeless Persons health care system crime victim Physical Examination institutional review health care need child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042447402&doi=10.1016%2fj.chiabu.2018.02.023&partnerID=40&md5=841991537a2a76beee796feeee78ddd1
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.02.023
ISSN: 01452134
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English