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Abstract
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The main finding from epidemiological literature on child sexual abuse is that no identifiable demographic or family characteristics of a child may be used to exclude the possibility that a child has been sexually abused. Some characteristics are associated with greater risk: girls more than boys, preadolescents and early adolescents, having a stepfather, living without a natural parent, having an impaired mother, poor parenting, or witnessing family conflict. Class and ethnicity appear not be associated with risk. In any case, none of these factors bear a strong enough relationship to the occurrence of abuse that their presence could play a confirming or disconfirming role in the identification of actual cases.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The major aim of this study by Finkelhor was to review research findings regarding the epidemiology of child sexual abuse. The findings were used by the author to argue that there are no recognizable demographic or family characteristics that can be used to negate the likelihood that a child has been a victim of child sexual abuse.
METHODOLOGY:
The author conducted a non-experimental literature review of the pertinent literature on the epidemiology of child sexual abuse.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The author reported that a review of the epidemiological literature on child sexual abuse revealed that there were no recognizable indicators that could be used to disconfirm the possibility that a child had been sexually abused. The author argued that child sexual abuse was not a rare phenomenon, that no subgroup was exempt from the incidence of child sexual abuse and, therefore, prejudices against particular societal groups were unjustified.
The author stated that research has indicated that approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys would experience child sexual abuse. The author reported that, in clinical accounts, boys have been underrepresented as victims of child sexual abuse (under 20% instead of approx. 29%). It was suggested that the detection of abuse among boys be vigilantly pursued by clinicians. Research has also revealed that 10% of the victims of child sexual abuse are under 6 yrs, there is a rise in vulnerability at ages 6-7, and that according to six large studies, the incidence of child sexual abuse dramatically increases at age 10.
The author noted that epidemiological research has not found an association between sexual abuse and social class. Reported cases of child sexual abuse have revealed that it is over- represented in children from lower social classes. However, community surveys have shown that sexual abuse is not more common among the lower class, nor is it underrepresented in higher strata groups. The author reported that occasional studies have also revealed differences in the incidence of sexual abuse among various ethnic groups. However, the studies have not been rigorous or large enough to warrant firm conclusions. The author suggested that clinicians needed to be cautioned against stereotypical biases, and provided with correct detection methods when making assessments concerning child sexual abuse.
Specific family structure and parenting features have been found to be associated with a higher incidence of child sexual abuse. However, as suggested by the author, the presence of a parental or family characteristic representative of child sexual abuse does not confirm that it is occurring. Also, it was suggested that feature absence does not disconfirm the occurrence of child sexual abuse.
The risk of child sexual abuse was reported as 7 times greater for girls who grew up with a stepfather than for girls who grew up with their biological fathers. The author reported that children growing up without one or both of their biological parents were at a greater risk of intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse. It was also reported that the presence of both biological parents does not guarantee that child sexual abuse will not occur or does not exist. Other parenting risk factors included: 1) a disabled, ill, or continuously absent mother, 2) parental conflict, and/or poor and punitive parenting (as reported by children), and 3) paternal violence. The author stated that two family processes have been shown to increase the risk of child sexual abuse. These have been noted as 1) poor supervision and monitoring of childrens' activities, and 2) physical and psychological abuse and emotional neglect which leave the child vulnerable to the attention and affection of child molesters. The author noted that these factors are better used in the prevention of child sexual abuse rather than as detectors of abuse. The author reported that although siblings of victims of sexual abuse were reported by clinicians to be at higher risk of abuse, epidemiological data has not clearly supported this contention.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author recommended that: 1) clinicians be actively suspicious when assessing for child sexual abuse; 2) researchers target small subgroups where sexual abuse might be unusually high in order to identify predictors of child sexual abuse; 3) researchers investigate, more arduously, the characteristics of children themselves, and 4) researchers utilize prospective, longitudinal studies so as to identify which children from which families become victims.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Child Abuse Causes
Child Abuse Risk Factors
Family Characteristics
Family Risk Factors
Demographic Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Child Sexual Abuse Causes
Child Sexual Abuse Risk Factors
Sexual Assault Causes
Sexual Assault Risk Factors
Victimization Causes
Victimization Likelihood
Victimization Risk Factors
Child Victim
Clinical
Diagnosis
Psychological Factors
Parenting Skills
Child Abuse Victim
Sexual Assault Victim
Child Sexual Abuse Victim
Victim Characteristics
Family Relations
Class Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Sociocultural Factors
Gender Differences
Child Male
Child Female
Male Victim
Female Victim
Language: en |