Assessment of Emotion Regulation and Psychological Symptomology in Commercially Sexually exploited Minors

Author(s): Kirsten Byrnes, Meghan Axman, Ann Thiessen

Objective: While likely an underestimate, research approximates 5% of children and adolescents in the US experience commercial sexual exploitation [1, 2]. There is no unified approach to assessing the needs of these youth and providing care. Few programs that have published results used objective measures of psychological functioning, and those that did often failed to account for the validity, reliability, and cultural appropriateness of measures used [3,4]. Anchored in research around ACEs and emotion regulation (ER), the current study examined correlations between these concepts and other markers of distress (e.g, system involvement, self-harm, substance abuse, and self-reported symptoms). Results would inform the development of appropriate batteries of assessments, guide treatment, and enhance program development for trafficked youth.

Method: 72 youth referred for treatment secondary to CSE provided demographic information and completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences-Questionnaire (ACE-Q) Teen Self-Report, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).

Results: This population evidenced high rates of ACE exposure, symptomology, and emotional dysregulation evidenced by self-report and documented behavioral indicators of distress. Conclusion: Results support the utility of these measures in assessing clinical presentations of and progress in treatment for youth who have experienced CSE and suggest emotion regulation may be a more desirable treatment target than symptom reduction. Implementing such batteries would improve the delivery of services both on the individual and programmatic levels.