Comparison of the Abuse Experience of Male and Female Adult Molested as Children

• NCJ Number: 130735
• Author(s): K A Kendall-Tackett; A F Simon
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): T32 MH15161
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Long Beach, California, April, 1987.

Annotation

Data from 365 adults molested as children was collected to compare the molestation experiences of boys and girls. Factors examined included identity of the perpetrator, age at onset and end of molestation, duration of molestation, types of sexual acts, and whether abuse was reported to law enforcement.

Abstract

The results revealed that, while both groups were equally likely to be molested by natural fathers, girls were more likely to be molested by stepfathers and boys by family friends. The age of onset was similar for both boys and girls, but girls' molestation lasted longer and ended at an older age. Boys and girls both experienced oral intercourse and fondling from the waist down, but molesters of girls were more likely to engage in anal intercourse and fondling from the waist up. There was no significant differences between the groups in their rates of reporting abuse. The results should be used to design effective prevention programs, using information on how boys successfully stop molestation at an earlier age and how boys and girls respond differently to their molestation experiences. 14 references (Author abstract modified)