Foster youth evidence shows elevated rates of risk behaviors, including sexual risk-taking (e.g., unprotected sex). Some studies have identified child maltreatment, particularly sexual abuse, as a risk for later sexual risk-taking, but none have examined how child welfare placement experiences relate to youth's sexual risk-taking. This study investigated relations among child maltreatment, chil...

OBJECTIVE There were two objectives; first, to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of child sexual abuse in an American Indian community, and second, to determine whether persons with histories of child sexual abuse are at greater risk to develop psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems than persons who report no such history. METHOD A sample of 582 Southwestern American India...

OBJECTIVE The current study examines multiple empirically based perspectives (i.e., child, caregiver, and clinician) of behavior and functioning as they contribute to the clinical and psychosocial profile of children (aged 5 to 17.5 years) with reported histories of sexual abuse. METHOD A large, multi-site data set of children referred into Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services both ...

BACKGROUND Sexual violence is a worldwide problem affecting children and adults. Knowledge of trends in prevalence is essential to inform the design and evaluation of preventive and intervention programmes. We aimed to assess the prevalence of lifetime sexual violence for both sexes and to document the prevalence of adult and child abuse by birth year in the general population. METHODS Nation...

When humans are young, their world revolves around their parents or primary caregivers, who provide security, love and support. Childhood sexual, emotional or physical abuse is a pattern of crime behaviour that is usually hidden by the caregiver. Sexual abuse involved any attempted or actual sexual contact between a child and caregiver for purposes of the caregiver’s sexual satisfaction. This t...

OBJECTIVE To determine the rate and risk of clinical and personality disorders diagnosed in childhood and adulthood in those known to have been sexually abused during childhood. METHODS Forensic medical records of 2,759 sexually abused children assessed between 1964 and 1995 were linked with a public psychiatric database between 12 and 43 years later. Cases were compared to control subjects m...

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of child abuse among high school students in Curacao. METHODS A questionnaire survey among high school students up to 17 years of age was conducted. The questionnaire was based on existing literature and validated questionnaires. The questionnaire used was analysed and adapted to the situation in Curaçao by a panel of experts on child abuse. The primary obje...

Becker reviews research on child sexual abuse perpetrators, highlighting the role of deviant sexual interests and behaviors in perpetration. Becker discusses characteristics of child sexual abuse perpetrators, problems in determining recidivism rates, and the efficacy of sexual offender treatment measures. CSA perpetrators are a diverse group in terms of both background and perpetration acts, b...

BACKGROUND Child sexual abuse is associated with adverse outcomes, including heightened vulnerability that may translate into risk of revictimization. The aims of the study were: (1) to explore the direct and indirect links between child sexual abuse and cyberbullying, bullying, and mental health problems and (2) to study maternal support as a potential protective factor. METHODS Teenagers in...

Children's disclosure of sexual abuse has been described as a quasi-developmental process that includes stages of denial, reluctance, disclosure, recantation, and reaffirmation (Sorenson & Snow, 1991, Summit, 1983). It has been reported that nearly 75% of sexual abuse victims initially deny abuse, and that nearly 25% eventually recant their allegations (Sorenson & Snow, 1991). The present study...