This study examined the relationship between the development of
PTSD and selected victim and event characteristics. The sample
consisted of 69 girls and 21 boys (mean age = 12.4 years) who had been
referred to a child witness preparation program following
documentation of sexual abuse. Comparisons of PTSD positive (N = 44)
and PTSD negative (N = 46) subgroups found significant differences on
variables of age, sex, duration of the abuse, and the use of violence
or coercion by the offender. Comparisons on psychological test data
indicated that the PTSD subgroup significantly differed from the
non-PTSD subgroup on the basis of children's abuse-related fears,
anxiety, depression, and feelings of guilt related to the
abuse. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that
factors related to the nature and severity of the abuse and the
child's self-report of guilt feelings each contributed significantly
to explaining 37% of the variance in PTSD symptoms, even after the
variables of receptive language ability, age, and sex were
controlled. Discriminant function analysis correctly classified 78.4%
of the respondents. The importance of considering PTSD in relation to
child sexual abuse is discussed, along with limitations of the current
study.