NCJ Number
223300
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: 2008 Pages: 163-179
Date Published
2008
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to explore how the age of the student influenced the perceptions of teacher sexual misconduct.
Abstract
Consistent with the parallel research on child sexual abuse conducted in 1997 and 1998, this study suggests that the age of the student powerfully impacts how teacher sexual misconduct is viewed. As either a main effect or within the context of an interaction effect, age emerged as significant on almost all (33/35) of the measured variables. The results of the study have implications for educating teachers and students about teacher sexual misconduct. Specifically, the findings suggest the need to particularly address the nature of teacher/adolescent student sexual relationships. Recently, teacher sexual misconduct involving schoolchildren and adolescents has received increased media attention. The purpose of this study was to explore whether student age influenced perceptions of teacher sexual misconduct. Based on previous research involving child sexual abuse, it was predicted that experiences involving an older adolescent would be viewed less negatively than experiences involving a preteen, which, in turn would be viewed less negatively than experiences involving a child. Participants for the study were 300 undergraduates drawn from a southeastern university. Tables, references