NCJ Number
228111
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2009 Pages: 412-420
Date Published
July 2009
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined the rates and characteristics of sexual and physical victimizations occurring subsequent to substantiated familial childhood sexual abuse (revictimization).
Abstract
When compared to a group who did not experience childhood sexual abuse, sexually abused females were almost twice as likely to have been sexually and physically revictimized. For females who were sexually abused in childhood, subsequent perpetrators were more likely to have been non-peers (at least 4 years older) and physical revictimizations were more likely to have resulted in injury. Childhood sexual abuse appears to place females at substantial risk for experiencing subsequent victimizations that are relatively severe as compared to victimizations reported by females who did not experience childhood abuse. Also reported is the substantial accuracy in abuse victims' reporting of past substantiated sexual abuse as corroborated by protective service records; after almost 15 years, reports of sexual abuse and characteristics such as perpetrator identity and variables indicative of severity were recalled and reported with relative accuracy. Results highlight increasing concern for the economic impact of childhood adversity; the effects of multiple or continued victimizations may have far-reaching public health consequences. Tables and references