NCJ Number
164634
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 1233-1243
Date Published
1996
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Admitted child molesters and nonmolesters who were clergy members and nonclergy were compared with respect to their exposure to childhood sexual abuse and their current psychopathology.
Abstract
The sample included 45 nonclergy child molesters, 40 nonclergy normal controls, 24 Roman Catholic clergy child molesters, and 48 Evangelical clergy who were normal controls. The study was approved by the Human Investigation Committee of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. Odds ratios for the association to child sexual abuse and child molestation were obtained while adjusting for group differences in demographic and psychological characteristics. Results revealed that exposure to sexual abuse in childhood was associated with becoming a child molester for both groups. Nonclergy offenders indicated more severe psychopathology than did clergy offenders. Nonclergy offenders demonstrated more sociopathy and mental disorder in general, whereas clergy offenders indicated more conflictedness about sexual issues. Findings suggested different etiologic factors for offending among clergy and nonclergy child molesters. Tables and 49 references (Author abstract modified)