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Relationship of Attributional Style, Depression, and Posttrauma Distress Among Children Who Suffered Physical or Sexual Abuse

University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey–School of Osteopathic Medicine

Maureen C. Kenny

Florida International University

This study examined the relationship of attributional style,posttrauma, and depressive symptoms among children whohave suffered either physical or sexual abuse. Ninety-eightchildren (67 physically abused, 31 sexually abused) were administereda depression inventory, the Post-Traumatic StressDisorder-Reaction Index (PTSD-RI), and Children'sAttributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ). With regard togroup differences, the sexual abuse group scored significantlyhigher on the PTSD-RI, whereas the physical abuse groupscored higher on the CASQ Composite for Negative Events.Results also indicated that attributional style predicted depressionbeyond the variance accounted for by abuse type (i.e.,physical or sexual). However, the best predictor of PTSD-RIscores was an interaction effect between abuse type and negativeattributional style. Clinical implications of these findingsfor children who suffer abuse are discussed.

Key Words: child physical abuse • child sexual abuse • attributions • depression • post-traumatic stress

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