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The aim of this study was to examine different aspects of anxiety symptoms in children who experienced different forms of abuse with respect to their age. The clinical study was conducted in the Child Protection Center of Zagreb. Study involved three groups of abused children aged between 9 and 18 years: emotionally abused, sexually abused and physically and emotionally abused children. These gorups were divided with respect to their age in the following groups: younger children (9-13 years) and older children (14-18 years). The Fear and Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (SKAD-62) (Vulic-Prtoric, 2004) was used. Preliminary results showed no significant differences concerning different type of abuse in the separate groups of younger and older children. Among emotionally abused children, younger children have a higher percentage of above-average results on social anxiety scale compared to older children. Differences between younger and older sexually abused children were not statistically significant. Among physically and emotionally abused children, younger children show more separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, anxiety sensitivity and somatic symptoms compared to older children, as well as a higher percentage of above-average results on social anxiety, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and somatic symptoms subscale. Results of this research suggest that the expression of anxiety symptoms in children exposed to different forms of abuse is not the same of younger and older children, especially in both physically and emotionally abused children. |
