Adolescent Adjustment after Incest

Abstract

Post-incestual adjustment of 26 Alaskan native and non-native adolescents, 19 girls and seven boys, tended to be poor, although adaptation levels improved by rescuing seduced victims or removing the offender from the family home. Characteristics of the offender, the spouse, and the victim were identified as well as the dynamics within the family setting. An Incomplete Sentences Blank and a behavioural checklist indicated that in the aftermath of incest there was a high rate of delinquency, chronic rule violations, substance abuse and running away among victims. Low tolerance for frustration, depression and hostility towards authority figures were frequently observed behaviours. Over-eating was common among female victims and hysterical seizures were noted in four cases. Sexual acting-out occurred in 46 per cent of the subjects studied. Pitfalls apt to be encountered in treatment of victims were discussed.