Study of Potential Risk Factors for Sexual Abuse in Childhood

• NCJ Number: 165974
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1997) Pages: 49-58
• Author(s): J Fleming; P Mullen; G Bammer
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Since research aimed at identifying factors for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is crucial for the development of prevention strategies, this study examined the relationship between several risk factors and CSA in a community sample of women using multivariate analysis and carefully operationalized variables.

Abstract

Questionnaires investigating alcohol problems were sent to 6,000 women randomly selected from the electoral rolls of Australia. Questions were asked about demographics, family background, childhood, general health and well-being, adult relationships, sexuality, and childhood sexual experiences. Questions on risk factors for CSA concerned self-reported happiness prior to 12 years of age and between 13 and 16 years of age, number of friends in primary and high school, social and school life during primary and high school, physical health, family structure and conflict, physical and mental health status of parents, alcohol use by parents, presence or absence of caring adults, and physical abuse. Variables significantly associated with CSA were physical abuse, having a mentally ill mother, not having someone to confide in, and being socially isolated. With the exception of physical abuse, different predictors emerged for abuse before and after 12 years of age. Social isolation and experiencing the death of a mother were significant predictors of abuse before age 12, while predictors of CSA after age 12 were physical abuse and a mentally ill mother. For abuse perpetrated by a family member, significant predictors of CSA were physical abuse, having no one to confide in, having no caring female adult, and having an alcoholic father. For girls abused by someone outside the family, significant predictors of CSA were physical abuse, social isolation, mother's death, and having an alcoholic mother. Study findings highlight circumstances that may increase the chance of abuse and that can form the basis of prevention and intervention strategies. 24 references and 4 tables