NCJ Number
189434
Journal
Adolescent & Family Health Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2000 Pages: 29-39
Date Published
2000
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined two factors that impact healthy psychosocial development: household/family environment and childhood sexual abuse (CSA); the relationship between them was examined.
Abstract
Using a sample of 323 women (64 CSA victims) attending reproductive health clinics in low-income, urban neighborhoods, time-varying retrospective data on 10 household risk factors were related to CSA and the specific conditions of its occurrence. Five household risks were associated with increased probability of CSA: excessive alcohol use within the household, criminal behavior by a male leading to arrest or incarceration, mother's absence from the household, father's absence, and a high number of residential moves. Patterns of change in household risk during child and adolescent development were different across victim and non-victim households. Compared with non-victim households, victim households exhibited further increases in risk levels during and after the abuse. Specific antecedent household conditions associated with specific males within the household increased the odds of CSA. Specific risks in these households continued and/or increased after the abuse ceased. Thus, the data suggested that household conditions indicative of parental dysfunction, antisocial behavior, and instability set the stage for CSA by interfering with the parental protection normally afforded in a well-functioning family. When parental presence or influence was minimized, girls became more vulnerable to victimization, particularly by non-parent sexually mature males. 6 tables and 44 references