Child sexual abuse: An examination of individual and abuse characteristics that may impact delays of disclosure

The present study aimed to consolidate on and expand on existing knowledge on the issue of child sexual abuse (CSA) by identifying the prevalence of and characteristics of CSA among Polish adult population with inclusion of other gender identities and socio-demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study was performed, using a self-reporting, anonymous, questionnaire. Data were analyzed by frequency/percentages, using SPSS software. A total of 234 individuals of various gender identity (male, female, non-binary, demigirl, agender, gender fluid) participated in the study (Mage = 22.52, SD = 6.65). The results indicate a 39.7% (N = 93) prevalence of CSA in the tested Polish population. Of the total sample, 13.2% knew other 3 or more individuals who suffered from CSA, 14.5% knew other 2 persons, and 26.1% knew one individual. Of the abused participants, 36.5% was of intra- and extrafamilial (51.6%) nature, whilst 11.8% experienced both. The mean age the first abuse occurred was 9.20 (SD = 3.43). The duration of CSA varied: 2 weeks up to 8 years. The most common type of violation was fondling (91.4%) and other sexual activities, excluding penetration (62.4%). All of the CSA victims experienced at least 2 types of sexual violation. The overall prevalence found in the current study was higher than expected, suggesting that victims may currently be more likely to self-report on CSA experiences, as majority of respondents, more than 80%, are in the 18-30 age group. It is suggested that there is a greater need for understating the scale of CSA in Poland and for inclusion of other gender identities in the research on this topic.

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Attributions of Blame in a Hypothetical Child Sexual Abuse Case: Roles of Behavior Problems and Frequency of Abuse

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260517716943 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (11-12) ◽

pp. 2142-2163 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kate Theimer ◽

David J. Hansen

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Behavior Problems ◽

Self Blame ◽

Abuse Case ◽

Attribution Of Blame ◽

Abuse Characteristics ◽

Sexual Abuse Case ◽

Nonoffending Parents ◽

Attributions Of Blame

Youth who are blamed for their sexual abuse may experience increased negative outcomes, such as amplified self-blame. Similarly, blaming nonoffending parents can impede their ability to support their child following disclosure. Understanding the factors that influence how people perceive victim, caregiver, and perpetrator responsibility is imperative for the protection and treatment of families who have experienced sexual abuse. Little research has explored victim and abuse characteristics that influence the perception of sexual abuse. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine the roles of behavior problems and frequency of abuse in the attribution of blame in a hypothetical sexual abuse case. In addition, the relationship between several respondent characteristics and assignment of responsibility were explored as secondary aims. The study used a two (behavior problems: three suspensions in one school semester vs. no mention of behavior problems) by two (one abuse occurrence vs. five abuse occurrences) between-subjects design. Seven hundred forty-two participants read one of the four child sexual abuse (CSA) vignettes and completed measures related to responsibility. ANOVAs revealed those who read a vignette where the youth experienced multiple abuse incidents rated the victim as more responsible regardless of whether or not the youth was described as having behavior problems. Results indicate that respondents may have attributed more blame to the victim due to the belief that she could have done something to stop the abuse after the first incident. The abuse frequency manipulation when combined with the behavior manipulation appeared to relate to how respondents perceived the victim’s parents. Males and younger respondents attributed more blame to the victim; however, sexual abuse or assault history did not associate with victim responsibility ratings. Clinical and research implications were discussed.

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Child Sexual Abuse and Criminal Offending: Gender-Specific Effects and the Role of Abuse Characteristics and Other Adverse Outcomes

Child Maltreatment ◽

10.1177/1077559518785779 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 399-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Nina Papalia ◽

James R. P. Ogloff ◽

Margaret Cutajar ◽

Paul E. Mullen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Criminal Offending ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Abuse Characteristics ◽

Gender Specific

This study sought to enhance knowledge of the link between child sexual abuse (CSA) and long-term criminality by investigating gender-specific effects and the role of index sexual abuse characteristics, revictimization, and serious mental health problems. An Australian sample of 2,759 documented cases of sexual abuse and 2,677 community controls were linked to statewide police records and public mental health service databases, with a follow-up period of 13–44 years. Four key findings emerged from the analysis: (1) CSA victims were more likely than controls to engage in all types of criminal behaviors including violent, sexual, and other offending; (2) gender moderated the relationship between CSA and criminal offending, with stronger associations found among females for general and violent offending, and among males for sexual offending; (3) certain features of the index sexual abuse (i.e., developmental period, number of perpetrators, relation to perpetrator), further victimization experiences, and the development of serious mental health problems were all associated with an increased likelihood of criminal behavior among CSA victims; (4) CSA victims who engaged in criminal offending were more likely to present with cumulative risks than victims not engaging in criminal offending. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

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A Quantitative Study on Gender Differences in Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse and Reasons for Nondisclosure

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260517720732 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (23-24) ◽

pp. 5255-5275 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pinar Okur ◽

Leontien M. van der Knaap ◽

Stefan Bogaerts

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Protection ◽

Personal Network ◽

General Mental Health ◽

Single Person ◽

The Subject ◽

Abuse Characteristics ◽

Disclosure Rate

Despite the available literature on disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA), little is known about how gender affects disclosure. This article aims to quantitatively examine whether gender differences exist in formal (to legal or child protection authorities) and informal (to a family member or friend) disclosure of CSA and, if so, to assess whether this relation is associated with abuse characteristics and attitudes toward gender roles. The study also aimed to examine whether gender differences exist in reasons not to disclose CSA. Data of a sample of 586 participants, who reported to have experienced CSA committed by a single person, have been used for the analyses. There were no gender differences for formal disclosure, but the informal disclosure rate of CSA was 2.4 times higher for women than men, and this effect remained significant after controlling for abuse characteristics and attitudes, even though the gender difference decreased slightly. Furthermore, women and men reported different reasons for not disclosing CSA in their personal network. Women were more worried than men that family and friends would discover the abuse and reported more insecurity of what to do in this situation. Professionals in the field of CSA should consider a gender perspective when developing guidelines. Men have rarely been the subject of studies of disclosure after CSA. Professionals should focus more on general mental health outcomes of men that are not related with CSA directly, but where the effects of CSA may exert more indirectly through associations with other problems in life.

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Predictors of Group Treatment Outcomes for Child Sexual Abuse: An Investigation of the Role of Demographic and Abuse Characteristics

Child Abuse Review ◽

10.1002/car.2343 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 102-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Atara Hiller ◽

Craig Springer ◽

Justin Misurell ◽

Amy Kranzler ◽

Shireen Rizvi

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Group Treatment ◽

Abuse Characteristics

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Malpractice & Negligence: State Supreme Courts Limit Therapists’ Duties to Third Parties

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1017/s1073110500012985 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 204-205

Author(s):

Megan Cleary

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Supreme Court ◽

New Hampshire ◽

Third Parties ◽

State Supreme Courts ◽

Recovered Memories ◽

Supreme Courts ◽

Repressed Memory ◽

University Of Colorado

In recent years, the law in the area of recovered memories in child sexual abuse cases has developed rapidly. See J.K. Murray, “Repression, Memory & Suggestibility: A Call for Limitations on the Admissibility of Repressed Memory Testimony in Abuse Trials,” University of Colorado Law Review, 66 (1995): 477-522, at 479. Three cases have defined the scope of liability to third parties. The cases, decided within six months of each other, all involved lawsuits by third parties against therapists, based on treatment in which the patients recovered memories of sexual abuse. The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in Hungerford v. Jones, 722 A.2d 478 (N.H. 1998), allowed such a claim to survive, while the supreme courts in Iowa, in J.A.H. v. Wadle & Associates, 589 N.W.2d 256 (Iowa 1999), and California, in Eear v. Sills, 82 Cal. Rptr. 281 (1991), rejected lawsuits brought by nonpatients for professional liability.

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