Now showing 1 - 10 of 14
  • Publication
    Psychological profiles of sexually abusive adolescents in Ireland
    Objective. This study aimed to profile the psychological and psychosocial characteristics of a group of Irish adolescents who had sexually abused other youngsters. Method. Levels of behaviour problems, personal adjustment, anger management and psychosocial adjustment were compared in 27 Irish adolescents with a history of sexual abusing another youngster (SA group); 20 clinical controls who had significant behavioural problems but no history of sexual offending (CC group); and 29 normal controls who were without significant psychological problems (NC group). Measures used included the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL); the Youth Self Report Form (YSR); selected scales from Beckett (1997) Adolescent Sex Offender Assessment Pack (ASOAP); and the Family Environment Scale (FES). Results. Compared with the CC group the SA group displayed fewer problems overall on the CBCL and the YSR. The SA group showed problems with self-esteem, emotional loneliness, and perspective taking similar to those of the CC group, but their impulsivity scores were similar to those of the NC group. The locus of control scores of the SA group fell between those of the CC and NC groups. The SA group showed an anger management profile which fell at an intermediate position between those of the NC and CC groups. The SA group showed problematic family functioning in the areas of expressiveness, behaviour control and social support similar to those of the CC group. Their difficulties with family cohesion were less severe than those of the CC group but worse than those of the NC group. Conclusions. Overall the psychological adjustment of adolescents with a history of sexual abusing others was more problematic that of normal controls but less problematic than that of youngsters who had significant behavioural problems but no history of sexual offending.
    Scopus© Citations 16  898
  • Publication
    Factor structures of measures of cognitive distortions, emotional congruence, and victim empathy based on data from Irish child sex offenders
    This study evaluated the factor structures of three instruments from the Sexual Offender Assessment Pack. The Children and Sex Cognitive Distortions Scale, the Children and Sex Emotional Congruence Scale, and the Child Victim Empathy Distortions Scale were administered to 203 sex offenders in Ireland. Confirmatory factor analyses did not support the proposed single factor structure for each of the three scales. Exploratory factor analyses suggested more complex factor structures. The Children and Sex Cognitive Distortions Scale was found to have two factors: (a) Perceptions of Children as Sexually Mature and (b) General Justifications for Sex With Children. The Children and Sex Emotional Congruence Scale was found to have three factors: (a) Positive Affect From Children, (b) Special Relationships With Children and (c) Preference for Relationships With Children. The Victim Empathy Scale was found to have two factors: (a) Positive Misattributions of Pleasure and (b) Denial of Negative Feelings in the Child. In clinical settings, the more complex factor structures identified in this study may used in scoring and interpreting responses to the three instruments investigated here. Our results require replication and further research should focus on the correlates of the factorial scales identified in this study.
      980Scopus© Citations 9
  • Publication
    A controlled evaluation of a prison based sexual offender intervention programme
    The effectiveness of a prison-based cognitive behavioral program designed to modify psychological risk factors associated with sexual offending was evaluated. The Irish Prison Service Sexual Offender Intervention Programme, is a manualized 10-month Cognitive Behaviour Therapy [CBT] program involving three 2-hour group sessions per week, which are facilitated by a team of clinical psychologists and probation officers. Improvements in 38 consecutive referrals to the program were compared with the status of 38 untreated offenders who were similar in marital status, age when they left school, occupational status prior to imprisonment, offence type, presence of previous convictions, and current sentence length. All research participants completed the same assessment protocol, which evaluated psychological factors associated with sexual offending at times equivalent to pre- and postintervention. Compared with the untreated control group, program participants showed statistically significant improvement on some but not all self-report measures of cognitive distortions, empathy, interpersonal skills, self-regulation, and relapse prevention. Motivation to change among the untreated control group was not associated with change in psychological functioning in the absence of the assistance of the treatment program. Implications for sexual offender intervention delivery are considered.
    Scopus© Citations 22  1291
  • Publication
    The clinical assessment of young people with sexually abusive behaviour
    (Brunner-Routledge, 2004-06) ;
    This chapter outlines some basic ideas that can be used to plan and conduct a clinical assessment for a young person referred for problems with sexually abusive behaviour. It begins by considering key characteristics that reflect a good approach to clinical assessment with this population. It then considers aspects of motivation that are important in planning such assessments. It will outline the main areas usually covered during a clinical assessment and concludes with ideas on formulating information from the assessment, report writing, and contracting for intervention. We use fictional case material to illustrate key points made regarding assessment throughout. The ideas contained in this chapter are drawn from a variety of sources including Beckett (1994), Graham, Richardson and Bhate (1997), Becker, (1998), APA Task Force (1999), Will (1999), and Sheerin and O’ Reilly (2000), and O’ Reilly (2001). Each of these authors provide useful information and ideas on conducting clinical assessments with young people who sexually abuse.
      514
  • Publication
    Enhancing motivation to change in adolescent perpetrators of CSA
    This article describes a group intervention aimed at promoting change among young people who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviour. The intervention combines two complimentary models of the process of change to produce what we describe as ‘11 Steps of Motivation and Action in Changing Sexually Abusive Behaviour’. A list of these steps can be presented to young people in treatment . Each step also has illustrative stories and accompanying question cards that invite group discussion designed to promote the process of change in young people with sexually abusive behaviour.
      254
  • Publication
    A robust method for the evaluation of prison based sex offender treatment programmes
    (Confénce Permanente Européne de la Probation, 2000-01) ; ; ;
    This paper outlines the approach to evaluating the sex offender treatment programme currently running in the Irish prison system. It begins with an introduction to the scope of the problem of sexual offending as reflected by the extent of the prison population in Ireland who have been convicted of a variety of sexual offences. It then outlines two key points that can be gleaned from several decades of general research on evaluating the effectiveness of psychological treatments while indicating how they have been included in our present research. We also describe the variety of data sources that need to be incorporated into an effective evaluation of prison based sex offender treatment programmes. We conclude with an introduction to some preliminary findings from our on-going research. These finding high-light the return in terms of more reliable information when care is taken in developing a robust method for the evaluation of prison-based sex offender treatment programmes.
      277
  • Publication
    Prevalence of CSA in Ireland
    (Edwin Mellen Press, 2004) ;
    Professionals involved in working with victims or perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) require a basic understanding of the nature of this problem in our society. The purpose of this article is to aid such an understanding from an Irish perspective by attempting a synthesis of two excellent and comprehensive research studies. Although these studies first appeared in the literature some time ago their findings remain relevant and in need of dissemination.
      425
  • Publication
    A group based intervention for adolescents to improve motivation to change sexually abusive behaviour
    This article describes a group based intervention for adolescents designed to improve motivation to change sexually abusive behaviour. The intervention is based upon the Prochaska and DiClemente (1983, 1986) stages of change model and Morrison’s (1998) seven steps in contemplating change model. We have combined these two models to produce “11 Steps of Motivation and Action in Changing Sexually Abusive Behaviour”. These 11 steps form the foundation of this intervention. We describe how we use the 11 steps, with accompanying vignettes describing juvenile sexual abusers at various points along the continuum of change, and question cards, to promote change. Examples of the vignettes are also provided along with a discussion of how they can be used to motivate change, develop healthy group norms in treatment, and set individual goals for clients. Finally we highlight the possibility of future applications of this intervention with male adult abusers, adolescent and adult female abusers, parents groups, significant other groups, individual clients, and children with sexually aggressive behaviour.
      317Scopus© Citations 6
  • Publication
    Attachment styles and psychological profiles of child sex offenders in Ireland
    When 29 child sex offenders, 30 violent offenders, 30 nonviolent offenders, and 30 community controls were compared, a secure adult attachment style was 4 times less common in the child sex offender group than in any of the other three groups. Ninety-three percent of sex offenders had an insecure adult attachment style. Compared with community controls, the child sex offender group reported significantly lower levels of maternal and paternal care and significantly higher levels of maternal and paternal overprotection during their childhood. Compared with all three comparison groups, the child sexual offenders reported significantly more emotional loneliness and a more external locus of control. With respect to anger management, the child sexual offenders’ profile more closely approximated those of nonviolent offenders and community controls than that of violent offenders.
    Scopus© Citations 84  2671
  • Publication
    The assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders in Ireland
    (Special Residential Services Board, 2004-08) ;
    Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a widespread national problem. Evidence indicates that in between one-quarter to one-third of all cases the perpetrator is a juvenile sex offender. In the Republic of Ireland there are only 4 juvenile sex offender treatment programmes staffed by interagency, multidisciplinary teams. These teams have developed rigorous assessment and treatment procedures. The programmes take account of the multifactorial causation of juvenile sexual offending and the need to involve families and a variety of agencies in helping these youngsters develop more productive lives and avoid recidivism. There is a need to develop and evaluate similar programmes in each region of the country.
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