The self-concept profiles of sexually abused, learning disabled, and normal adolescent females

This study was designed to investigate the self-concepts of female adolescent victims of sexual abuse. Additionally, the self-concepts of female learning disabled adolescents were compared with the self-concepts of normal population adolescents. A sample of fifteen normal adolescents and thirteen learning disabled adolescents completed the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. The archival data included fifteen Piers-Harris questionnaires completed by adolescent victims of sexual abuse. An analysis of variance provided significant differences on six of the seven scales of the Piers-Harris. A protected-t post hoc analysis yielded significant differences between the three groups. The sexual abuse group scored significantly lower than the normal group in the areas of overall self-concept, and intellectual and school status. The sexual abuse group scored significantly lower than the learning disabled group in the areas of overall self-concept, intellectual and school status, anxiety, and happiness and satisfaction. The learning disabled scored significantly lower than the normal group in the areas of overall self-concept, intellectual and school status, anxiety, and popularity.