Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors☆,☆☆
Abstract
This paper reports on the first national survey of adults concerning a history of childhood sexual abuse. Victimization was reported by 27% of the women and 16% of the men. Higher rates of abuse were found among men who grew up in unhappy families, lived for some period with only their mothers, who were currently residing in the West and who came from English or Scandinavian heritage. Higher rates of abuse were found among women who grew up in unhappy families, lived for some period without one of their natural parents, received inadequate sex education, were currently residing in the West or who were born after 1925.
Résumé
II s'agit de la première enquête nationale auprès d'adultes, concernant d'éventuels sévices sexuels subis dans l'enfance. 27% des femmes et 16% des hommes ont déclaré avoir été victimes de tels sévices. Les taux de maltraitancc étaient plus élevés parmi les hommes qui, ayant été élevés par des familles malheureuses, avaient vécu pendant quelque temps avec leur mère seule. Ils sont à l'heure actuelle domiciliés dans l'ouest des Etats-Unis. Leurs ancêtres étaient d'origine anglaise ou scandinave. Parmi les femmes, le taux de maltraitance était plus élevé chez celles qui. ayant été élevées dans des familles malheureuses, ont vécu quelque temps, soit avec leur mère seule, soit avec leur père seul et n'ont pas reçu d'éducation sexuelle adéquate. Elles habitent plutôt l'ouest des Etats-Unis ou étaient nées après l'année 1925.
Resumen
Este artículo reporta acerca de la primera encuesta nacional de adultos con respecto a una historia de abuso sexual en la niñez. La victimización fué reportada por 27% de las mujeres y 16% de los hombres. Mayores porcentajes de abuso fueron hallados entre aquellos hombres que crecíeron en familias infelices, que vivieron durante un período tan solo con su madre, que residían actualmente en el Oeste y que eran de descendencia inglesa o escandinava. Mayores porcentajes de abuso fueron hallados entre las mujeres que crecieron en familias infelices. que vivieron por un período sin uno de sus padres naturales, que recibieron educación sexual inadecuada, y que residían actualmente en el Oeste o nacieron después de 1925.
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Cited by (1446)
L'expérience subjective des femmes de diverses origines ethniques victimes d'agressions sexuelles intrafamiliales pendant l'enfance: Deux études de cas
2024, European Journal of Trauma and DissociationChild sexual abuse (under 18 years old) in women is a widespread problem in all communities, with many serious consequences. Although there are several studies concerning victims of sexual assault, few focuses on their experiences by taking ethnocultural aspects into account. Moreover, although internal attribution is common among victims, i.e., feelings of guilt and shame, few studies explore this aspect in victims from different ethno-cultural backgrounds. However, specific values in different cultures can influence the emotions victims feel and, thus their experiences.
This article aims to explore the experiences of victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse from different ethno-cultural backgrounds.
Two case studies were carried out. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with two women from different ethnocultural backgrounds who were victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse.
The results reveal some similarities between the experiences of these two volunteers, despite their diverse backgrounds, notably concerning the relationship with their mother, gender roles, cultural differences, identity issues, sexuality, feelings of shame and guilt, and consequences of sexual assault.
This study highlights the importance of conducting more research on the subject to understand their experiences better. This will enable us to assess their needs better and provide appropriate support.
L'agression sexuelle vécue par les femmes durant l'enfance (moins de 18 ans) est un phénomène répandu dans toutes les sociétés et comporte de nombreuses conséquences graves. Bien qu'il existe plusieurs études concernant les victimes d'agression sexuelle, peu de recherches portent sur le vécu de ces dernières en tenant compte des aspects ethnoculturels. De plus, bien que l'attribution interne soit commune chez les victimes, c'est-à-dire les sentiments de culpabilité et de honte, peu d’étude explore cet aspect chez les victimes de différentes appartenances ethnoculturelles. Or, selon les études, certaines valeurs dans différentes cultures peuvent influencer les émotions ressenties par les victimes et ainsi, leur vécu.
Cet article vise à explorer le vécu des victimes d'agression sexuelle intrafamiliale durant l'enfance de différentes origines ethnoculturelles.
Deux études de cas ont été réalisées. La collecte de données s'est effectuée par des entretiens individuels semi-structurés de deux victimes d'agression sexuelle intrafamiliale issues d'origines ethnoculturelles différentes.
Les résultats permettent de relever plusieurs ressemblances entre le vécu de ces deux participantes, malgré leurs origines différentes, notamment concernant la relation avec la mère, les rôles genrés, les différences culturelles, les enjeux identitaires, la sexualité, les sentiments de honte et de culpabilité, et les conséquences de l'agression sexuelle.
Cette étude met en lumière l'importance d'effectuer plus de recherches concernant les victimes d'agression sexuelle de différentes appartenances ethnoculturelles afin de mieux comprendre leur vécu. Ceci permettra de mieux évaluer leurs besoins et de leur procurer un soutien adapté.
Factors associated with delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse: A focus on the victim's having been led to perform sexual acts on the perpetrator
2024, Child Abuse and NeglectContextual variables associated with children's willingness to disclose sexual abuse have been identified in previous studies, but further investigation is needed to better understand delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA).
This study aimed to examine the factors associated with the risk of delayed disclosure of CSA. More specifically, it focused on a factor that has rarely, if ever, been looked into: the fact that some victims are led to perform sexual acts on the perpetrator.
A content analysis was performed on 68 transcripts of investigative interviews with CSA victims aged 4 to 12 years old.
Based on our content analysis, the time between the first abuse and the first disclosure was determined for each victim. The age and gender of the victim, the victim's relationship with the perpetrator, the age of the perpetrator, the frequency and severity of the abuse, and whether or not the victim mentioned having performed sexual acts on the perpetrator were also coded.
Chi-square analyses showed that the risk of delayed disclosure was associated with the victim's having performed, or not performed, sexual acts on the perpetrator (χ2 = 16.327, p < 0.001), the victim's relationship with the perpetrator (χ2 = 10.013, p = 0.002), and the frequency of the abuse (χ2 = 11.617, p < 0.001).
Our study is the first to demonstrate that having been led to sexually touch the perpetrator is associated with delayed disclosure of CSA.
What do adults who experienced child sexual abuse want to convey about therapy?
2023, Child Abuse and NeglectChild sexual abuse (CSA) studies have significantly advanced the understanding of its prevalence and adverse consequences. Tremendous efforts worldwide have been devoted to CSA interventions. However, surprisingly, there is a lack of research dedicated to learning about experiences with therapy among adults who experienced CSA.
This study was designed to address this gap by exploring the perspectives and experiences with therapy among adults who experienced CSA.
Thirty-nine written testimonies comprised the current sample. All of the testimonies were provided to the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry into CSA by adults who experienced CSA and received therapy at one point in their lives. A qualitative inductive thematic analysis guided the exploration of the testimonies.
The testimonies provided an important glance into significant characteristics of therapy, such as the timing and reasons leading to therapy, and perceptions regarding what constitutes appropriate therapy. Although beneficial and rehabilitating therapy experiences were mentioned by some of the participants, the majority of the testimonies focused on experiences related to the obstacles and challenges to accessing and engaging in therapy faced by those who experienced CSA.
The testimonies not only addressed essential aspects of therapy, but also highlighted the importance of thoroughly comprehending the broad context of a person's life that leads them to seek therapy. The discussion points to grave social and policy lacunas that prevent people who experienced CSA from receiving therapy that is accessible, timely, subsidized, stigma-free and multifaceted.
Mimicry Deception Theory applied to sexual abuse of children
2023, Child Abuse and NeglectSexual abuse of children remains a widespread problem with well-documented, adverse consequences. Often, abuse ending is contingent on a disclosure made by the victim, but victims delay disclosure if they tell someone at all. The factors associated with (non)disclosure are complex and interrelated. In this paper, we propose a new theoretical framework (Mimicry Deception Theory; MDT) to explore various aspects of the grooming process, using a qualitative content analysis of US court appeal cases (N = 25). Specifically, we focus on how MDT components contribute to the likelihood of a CSA disclosure. MDT is made up of five components: Victim Selection, Community Integration, Complexity of Deception, Resource Extraction, and Detectability. These five components allow us to look at several characteristics of abuse in tandem and examine how they interact to impact various outcomes, such as (non)disclosure. We provide a detailed codebook for this framework, that can be used to systematically extract relevant information from large amounts of data. Through the application of this framework, we were able to identify several factors that may play a role in delayed or non-disclosure. Further, we found repeat offenders were likely to use the exact same methods of access, grooming, and remaining undetected across victims. Implications for prevention, as well as clinical interventions with perpetrators as well as victims are discussed.
A Longitudinal Study of Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization in Puerto Rican Youth
2023, Academic PediatricsTo determine whether youth, family, and neighborhood factors and minoritized status are associated with youth-reported sexual victimization from childhood through young adulthood.
We analyzed longitudinal data from 2 population-based samples of Puerto Rican youth living in the South Bronx (as a minoritized group) and Puerto Rico (as a nonminoritized group). Waves 1 to 3 were collected annually beginning in 2000 (youth age 5–13). Wave 4 was collected 2013 to 2017 (youth age 15–29). We estimated multivariable associations between youth, family, and neighborhood factors and minoritized status at Wave 1 (independent variables); and youth-reported sexual victimization at Waves 1 to 4 (dependent variables).
None of the factors was associated with youth-reported sexual victimization at Wave 1 (N = 1911). Among youth reporting no previous history of sexual victimization at Wave 1 (n = 1823), youth in the South Bronx vs Puerto Rico were more likely to report sexual victimization at Waves 2 or 3 (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 3.62 [1.46–8.97]). Older youth were less likely to report sexual victimization (OR [95% CI] = 0.77 [0.65–0.91]) (all P < .01). Among youth reporting no history of sexual victimization at Waves 1 to 3 (n = 1782), youth in the South Bronx (OR [95% CI] = 2.53 [1.52–4.22]), female youth (OR [95% CI] = 2.81 [1.83–4.30]), and youth whose parents had more than a high school degree (OR [95% CI] = 2.25 [1.38–3.67]) were more likely to report sexual victimization at Wave 4 than their counterparts (all P ≤ .001).
Future research should investigate how living as a minoritized youth may contribute to an increased risk of sexual victimization.
Psychosocial aspects of sports medicine in pediatric athletes: Current concepts in the 21<sup>st</sup> century
2023, Disease-a-MonthBehavioral aspects of organized sports activity for pediatric athletes are considered in a world consumed with winning at all costs. In the first part of this treatise, we deal with a number of themes faced by our children in their sports play. These concepts include the lure of sports, sports attrition, the mental health of pediatric athletes (i.e., effects of stress, anxiety, depression, suicide in athletes, ADHD and stimulants, coping with injuries, drug use, and eating disorders), violence in sports (i.e., concepts of the abused athlete including sexual abuse), dealing with supervisors (i.e., coaches, parents), peers, the talented athlete, early sports specialization and sports clubs.
In the second part of this discussion, we cover ergolytic agents consumed by young athletes in attempts to win at all costs. Sports doping agents covered include anabolic steroids (anabolic-androgenic steroids or AAS), androstenedione, dehydroepiandrostenedione (DHEA), human growth hormone (hGH; also its human recombinant homologue: rhGH), clenbuterol, creatine, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), amphetamines, caffeine and ephedrine. Also considered are blood doping that includes erythropoietin (EPO) and concepts of gene doping.
In the last section of this discussion, we look at disabled pediatric athletes that include such concepts as athletes with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), myelomeningocele, cerebral palsy, wheelchair athletes, and amputee athletes; also covered are pediatric athletes with visual impairment, deafness, and those with intellectual disability including Down syndrome. In addition, concepts of autonomic dysreflexia, boosting and atlantoaxial instability are emphasized.
We conclude that clinicians and society should protect our precious pediatric athletes who face many challenges in their involvement with organized sports in a world obsessed with winning. There is much we can do to help our young athletes find benefit from sports play while avoiding or blunting negative consequences of organized sport activities.
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The data analysis was supported by funds from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect under Grant 90CA1215.
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Other papers concerning sexual abuse and family violence, including other analyses from this survey, are available by writing the Program Administrator, Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824.