NCJ Number
129330
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 213-221
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Content analysis of 325 case records of child sexual abuse perpetrated by child care providers was used to examine the social contexts in which such abuse occurs. The gender and age of the care provider was analyzed as well as the parent-child, caregiver-parent, and caregiver-child interactions which appeared pertinent to the abusive situation.
Abstract
Seven main child care arrangements in which sexual abuse occurs were identified: regular caregivers, ad hoc caregivers, friends or relatives of regular caregivers, sleep-overs, live-in caregivers, child's adult friend, and family friend. The arrangements varied by the routinization of the caregiving arrangement, methods of caregiver selection, and reimbursement procedures. The findings show that most female perpetrators of child sexual abuse were adolescent, regular caregivers. Male abusers, on the other hand, represented a wide range of ages and committed sexual abuse in many different types of caregiving situations. 2 tables and 12 references (Author abstract modified)