NCJ Number
214656
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 29-49
Date Published
2006
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study explored the sexual abuse histories of male and female youth in residential treatment centers (RTCs), which is the highest level of care in the child welfare system.
Abstract
The findings suggest that treatment interventions should draw from trauma theory in general and sexual abuse in particular and further suggest that RTC staff should be provided with sexual abuse specific training. Results indicated that of the 1,321 youths in RTCs that were surveyed, 399 were known victims of sexual abuse. Notable findings were that one-fourth of abused youth were sexually abuse by more than one perpetrator and that the vast majority of youth were victimized by male perpetrators. Male victims were more likely to have only one perpetrator and to have a female perpetrator. A full 70 percent of sexually abused youths had been sexually abused by a family member and the vast majority of the sample had also experienced at least one other form of child maltreatment, such as physical abuse and neglect. This article reports on the analysis of the data collected from the 399 youths with documented histories of child sexual abuse. Participants completed measures assessing number of perpetrators, gender of perpetrators, place of victimization, relationship to perpetrator, and other child maltreatment victimization. Data analysis techniques included chi-square and cross-tabulation calculations. Future research might focus on the consequences of being sexually abused by the opposite sex parent. Tables, references