Risk Factors for the Perpetration of Child Sexual Abuse: A Review and Meta-Analysis

• NCJ Number: 223717
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal Volume: 32 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 529-548
• Author(s): Daniel J. Whitaker; Brenda Le; R. Karl Hanson; Charlene K. Baker; Pam M. McMahon; Gail Ryan; Alisa Klein; Deborah Donovan Rice
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper presents the results of a review and meta-analysis of studies examining risk factors for perpetration of child sexual abuse published since 1990.

Abstract

Results for the six major categories developed showed that sex offenders against children (SOC) were not different from sex offenders who perpetrated against adults (SOA) other than showing lower externalizing behaviors. Sex offenders against children were somewhat different from nonsex offenders, especially with regard to sexual problems and attitudes. Sex offenders against children showed substantial differences from nonoffenders with medium sized effects in all six major categories. The study found that child sex offenders are different from nonsex offenders and nonoffenders but not from sex offenders against adults. The findings suggest that the presence of general risk factors may lead to a variety of negative behavioral outcomes, including the perpetration of child sexual offending. Family factors were strongly related to the perpetration of child sex offending (vs. nonsexual offending or nonoffending) and might be valuable intervention points for interrupting the development of child sex offending, as well as other negative behaviors. The work recommends that other potential points for intervention may focus on the development of appropriate social and emotional skills that contribute to sexual offending. Eighty-nine studies published between 1990 and April 2003 were reviewed for this work. Risk factors were classified into one of the following six broad categories: family factors, externalizing behaviors, internalizing behaviors, social deficits, sexual problems, and attitudes/beliefs. Sex offenders against children (SOC) were compared to 3 comparison groups identified within the 89 studies: sex offenders who perpetrated against adults (SOA), nonsex offenders, and nonoffenders with no history of criminal or sexual behavior problems. Tables, references, and appendix