Similarities and differences in adolescence-onset versus adulthood-onset sexual abuse incidents

Child Abuse & Neglect
Nadine McKillopKarlyn Pritchard

Abstract

A sample of males who had first committed sexual offences against children in either adolescence (n=230; M=14.0 years, SD=1.5) or adulthood (n=280; M=34.4 years, SD=11.7) were compared on measures relating to the circumstances of their first known sexual abuse incident. Considerable diversity in the circumstances of these first incidents was observed for both groups. However, adulthood-onset sexual abuse most often occurred following a long-standing familial relationship with a female victim, and in a home setting. The first incident for adolescence-onset offenders also tended to occur in the context of a long-term relationship and against a female child in a home setting, but more commonly against a nonfamilial victim. Adulthood-onset offenders abused older children, were more likely to engage in penetrative sexual behaviors, and went on to abuse over a longer duration than adolescence-onset offenders. Adolescence-onset offences were more likely to be witnessed by a third party. Findings and their implications for prevention are considered from a situational crime prevention perspective.

References

Jan 1, 1990·Epidemiology·K J Rothman
May 1, 1987·Psychological Bulletin·G E Davis, H Leitenberg
Jul 1, 1985·The American Journal of Physiology·I Cornish, T W Moon
May 1, 1995·Child Abuse & Neglect·M ElliottJ Kilcoyne
Nov 1, 2002·Child Maltreatment·Michael F Caldwell
Jan 27, 2009·International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·Michael F Caldwell
Jul 20, 2012·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Maureen C Kenny, Sandy K Wurtele

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