NCJ Number
213161
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: 2005 Pages: 115-126
Date Published
2005
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of childhood physical and sexual abuse in China.
Abstract
Overall, the rate of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse in Shanghai, China appears to be higher than the rate in Winnipeg, Canada. Findings indicated that 7.8 percent of Chinese inpatients reported childhood sexual and/or physical abuse, compared with 14.5 percent of Chinese outpatients and 12.5 percent of the Canadian respondents. However, the characteristics of sexual abuse appeared to be similar in both countries. Specifically, the majority of perpetrators of sexual abuse were males outside of the family and the most common type of abuse involved hand-to-genital contact and other types of fondling. The characteristics of physical abuse were also similar in both countries, with physical abuse most often occurring inside the family and mothers and fathers identified equally often as perpetrators. A comparative research methodology was employed in which the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was administered to 423 inpatients and 304 outpatients at Shanghai Mental Health Center. The interview schedule was also administered to a comparison group of 618 clothing factory workers in Shanghai and 502 respondents from the general population in Winnipeg, Canada. The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule is a structured diagnostic interview capable of making DSM-IV diagnoses of somatization disorder, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and the five dissociative disorders. Follow-up studies should take a more comprehensive, systematic, and international approach. Tables, references