NCJ Number
118821
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (1989) Pages: 271-279
Date Published
1989
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study describes the features of incest by cousins and siblings from a sample of victims at a sexual assault center and differentiates cases of abusive behavior from normal sexual exploitation.
Abstract
Four criteria were considered indicative of abusive behavior, including age difference of five years between victim and perpetator; use of force, threat, or authority by abuse; attempted penile penetration; and documented injury in victim. Of 831 sexually abused children below fourteen years of age evaluated for sexual assault complaints, 49 cases of cousin incest and 35 cases of sibling incest were identified. A total of 54 male cousins abused 8 boys and 41 girls; brothers abused 3 boys and 32 girls. The victims median age was 5 years for cousins and 7 years for siblings. The perpetrators mean age was 16.2 years for cousins and 15.5 years for siblings. Of the perpetrators, 66 were 5 years older than their victims. A similar pattern of adolescent perpetrators having abusive sexual contact with young children was demonstrated by analysis of cousin and sibling incest. The study concluded that appropriate case management required understanding of the normal and abusive nature of these cases. Tables and 32 references. (Author abstract modified)