Sex Differences in Childhood Sexual Abuse Characteristics and Victims' Emotional and Behavioral Problems: Findings From a National Sample of Youth

• NCJ Number: 231247
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 429-437
• Author(s): Andrea Kohn Maikovich-Fong; Sara R. Jaffee
• Date Published: June 2010
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): HD050691
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined sex differences in the experience and psychological ramification of childhood sexual abuse in youth samples.

Abstract

Study findings indicate that girls are more likely than boys to have their abuse substantiated and to experience penetrative abuse. Substantiation status and child age were positively associated with caregiver-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Gender did not moderate the relationship between abuse characteristics and youth emotional and behavioral problems. Limited quantitative research exists that examines sex differences in the experience and psychological ramification of childhood sexual abuse in youth. This study had two objectives. First, the study tested for sex differences in four childhood sexual abuse characteristics: penetration, substantiation, perpetrator familial status, and multi-maltreatment. Second, the study tested for sex differences in how these abuse characteristics were associated with victim's emotional and behavioral problems. Five hundred and seventy-three youth were involved in the study drawn from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Tables and references