NCJ Number
212095
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 67-89
Date Published
2005
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study explored the relationship between race/ethnicity and experiences of child sexual abuse (CSA).
Abstract
While relatively little research has focused on exploring how race and ethnicity impact on CSA experiences, qualitative studies have suggested that racial, cultural, and religious factors are related to differences in CSA disclosure. The current study extends this research by exploring links between race/ethnicity, exposure to CSA, abuse characteristics, coping strategies, attributions, and social reactions to abuse disclosures. Participants were a cross-sectional convenience sample of 461 female college students who completed a survey measuring sexual abuse experiences and disclosure characteristics, as well as social reactions, coping strategies, attributions of shame, psychological symptoms, and adolescent/adult sexual abuse experiences. Results of statistical analyses indicated significant ethnic differences in the prevalence of sexual abuse, the severity of abuse, the victim-offender relationship, and post-abuse coping strategies. Child sexual abuse was most prevalent among Black participants, followed by Hispanics, Whites, and Asians. While ethnic differences did not emerge for disclosure characteristics, differences by ethnicity were noted for social reactions to disclosure. Future research should continue probing ethnic differences in CSA experiences among representative samples of college students. Tables, references