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Biomedical subjects

K A Kendall-Tackett

Publications and source records attributed to K A Kendall-Tackett.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Physiological correlates of childhood abuse: chronic hyperarousal in PTSD, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: During the past 10 years, researchers have documented how trauma--especially severe trauma--can alter the functioning of the brain. In some cases, these alterations create a state of chronic hyperarousal. The present review serves as an introduction to this research. FINDINGS: Persons who have experienced traumatic events are often "primed" to over-react to subsequent stressors, making them more vulnerable to these events. CONCLUSION: Chronic hyperarousal underlies three common and often co-occurring sequelae of childhood abuse: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. Knowledge of these physiological correlates can affect treatment decisions as well as our theories about the mechanisms underlying the development of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The effects of neglect on academic achievement and disciplinary problems: a developmental perspective.

The present study examines the effect of child neglect, alone and in combination with abuse, on academic achievement and school disciplinary problems for elementary, junior high, and senior high students. The sample included 324 neglected children and adolescents, and a matched nonmaltreated sample of 420 children and adolescents. All subjects were in grades K through 12 in a small city in New York state. The results revealed that neglected children did perform more poorly than their nonmaltreated counterparts, having lower grades, more suspensions, more disciplinary referrals, and more grade repetitions, even when controlling for gender of child and SES. Neglect alone and neglect in combination with physical or sexual abuse was related to lower grades and more suspensions. The combination of abuse and neglect had a particularly strong effect on the number of disciplinary referrals and grade repetitions. Abused/neglected students in junior high had the highest number of grade repetitions. The number of disciplinary referrals continued to increase through senior high for both neglected and abused/neglected students. Interestingly, the academic performance of all subjects dropped during junior high. Neglect and neglect in combination with abuse appeared to exacerbate a decline in academic performance that occurs as children enter junior high school.

Achievement↗
PubMed1995

Weaning ages in a sample of American women who practice extended breastfeeding.

This research examined age and method of weaning in a sample of 179 women who practiced extended breastfeeding. The average age for weaning was between 2 years 6 months and 3 years 0 months and ranged from 1 month to 7 years 4 months. Fourteen women had each weaned at least three children, and the youngest children were significantly older at the time of weaning than were their older siblings. Weaning was described as being "gradual" and "child-led" by the majority of women. A smaller, but substantial, percentage of women cited reasons for weaning related to a subsequent pregnancy. Weaning ages for women who practice extended nursing were substantially older than were those of more typical North American mothers and were similar to those in traditional cultures with similar parenting practices.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The social consequences of long-term breastfeeding.

This study examined the social consequences for mothers of long-term breastfeeding in a non-supportive culture, and how mothers learned to cope with negative reactions and comments from others. One hundred seventy-nine women who were recruited from La Leche League area conferences nationwide from 1989 to 1991 completed a self-administered closed-ended questionnaire which asked about their breastfeeding and weaning experiences. The percentage of mothers who cited "social stigma" as a negative aspect of breastfeeding increased dramatically as the age of the child increased; 29 percent cited social stigma for breastfeeding past six months, 44 percent for breastfeeding past 12 months, and 61 percent for breastfeeding past 24 months. In spite of the social stigma, the women cited more positive aspects for breastfeeding (M = 6.18 aspects) than they did negative aspects (M = .85 aspects). The positive aspects of breastfeeding emphasized the strong emotional bond between mother and child, and the emotional benefits they both received. Mother-to-mother support, spousal support, and a woman's own sense of confidence were important buffers against the criticism of others. And while the criticism of others was likely to cause negative feelings, the mothers reported that it had very little impact on their breastfeeding behaviors.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Impact of sexual abuse on children: a review and synthesis of recent empirical studies.

A review of 45 studies clearly demonstrated that sexually abused children had more symptoms than nonabused children, with abuse accounting for 15-45% of the variance. Fears, posttraumatic stress disorder, behavior problems, sexualized behaviors, and poor self-esteem occurred most frequently among a long list of symptoms noted, but no one symptom characterized a majority of sexually abused children. Some symptoms were specific to certain ages, and approximately one third of victims had no symptoms. Penetration, the duration and frequency of the abuse, force, the relationship of the perpetrator to the child, and maternal support affected the degree of symptomatology. About two thirds of the victimized children showed recovery during the first 12-18 months. The findings suggest the absence of any specific syndrome in children who have been sexually abused and no single traumatizing process.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Use of anatomical dolls by Boston-area professionals.

Anatomical dolls are a widely used but controversial tool for interviewing child victims of sexual abuse. The present research examines how a representative sample of professionals who evaluate children actually use the dolls. Contrary to past reports, the results revealed that 96.6% of professionals who use the dolls had received training in anatomical doll use, 77.8% followed some standard protocol for interviewing, and 97.3% had at least 1 year of experience with anatomical dolls. The results also revealed that the majority of professionals did not engage in the "leading" behaviors of presenting unclothed dolls to children or undressing the dolls for the child, again contrary to past reports. The present research indicates that the professionals in this sample are more experienced and better trained than is typically thought.

Child↗
PubMed1988

Molestation and the onset of puberty: data from 365 adults molested as children.

This study examines whether molestation is most likely to occur before or after the onset of puberty and also whether molestation is likely to be a one-time occurrence or last for a long time. The study analyzed intake interviews from 365 adults molested as children (AMACs). The AMACs were entering treatment at the Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, San Jose, CA. This paper presents data on the age of onset and end of the molestation and the duration of the molestation in years. For this sample, the average age of onset was 7.5; the average age at the end of the molestation was 13. The overwhelming majority of molestations lasted one year or more. We discuss results in the context of past studies and suggest areas for further research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Perpetrators and their acts: data from 365 adults molested as children.

Intake interviews were analyzed from 365 adults molested as children (AMACs). The AMACs were entering treatment at the Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program (San Jose, CA). This study presents data on the relationship of the perpetrator to the victim, and whether most molestations include intercourse. The majority of the perpetrators (62%) were either biological fathers or father-surrogates. Ninety-nine percent of the perpetrators were known to the victim; 97% were male. As in past studies, fondling from the waist down was the most common type of molestation, occurring in 92% of the cases. Forty-four percent of cases included intercourse. The present findings are compared with past research and are discussed in the context of common misconceptions associated with child sexual abuse.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1987

Use of physical and neurologic observations in assessment of gestational age in low birth weight infants.

The relative validities of three clinical assessment methods for estimating gestational age in newborn low birth weight infants were evaluated with reference to estimates based on the date of the mother's last menstrual period. For 1246 infants in eight diverse institutions, estimates based on physical criteria correlated more strongly with dates estimates, yielded estimates more similar on average to dates estimates, and yielded higher proportions of correct classifications of prematurity and small for gestational age than did estimates based on neurologic criteria or neurologic and physical criteria combined. These results support the use of physical criteria rather than neurologic or combined criteria for the clinical assessment of gestational age in low birth weight infants. In a subsample of 511 black and white infants, there were no ethnic differences in mean error of estimate for any of the three methods.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Professionals' standards of "normal" behavior with anatomical dolls and factors that influence these standards.

Do professionals have a consistent standard of what constitutes normal behavior with anatomical dolls? To answer this question, 201 professionals who work with child sexual abuse victims were asked to rate the normalcy of various behaviors with the dolls for nonabused children ages 2 to 5.9 years. The majority of respondents agreed that overtly sexual behaviors, such as demonstrating oral-genital contact or vaginal intercourse, were abnormal for nonabused children. For less obvious behaviors, such as touching the sex parts of dolls, there was more disagreement among professionals about what these behaviors mean. The ratings of these ambiguous behaviors varied depending on profession of the respondent, gender of the respondent, and number of years of experience. Law enforcement professionals, women, and those with the least amount of experience were more likely to view ambiguous behaviors as abnormal. These findings are discussed in the context of past research, with suggestions for future studies.

Child↗