Wanted and Unwanted Sexual Experiences and Family Dysfunction During Adolescence

• NCJ Number: 182096
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 55-68
• Author(s): Nancy D. Kellogg; Sandra Burge; Elizabeth R. Taylor
• Editor(s): Vincent B. Van Hasselt, Michel Hersen
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between family dysfunction and wanted, unwanted, and illegal sexual experiences during childhood and adolescence.

Abstract

The study sample included 355 subjects from a sexual abuse clinic, a family practice clinic, and a family planning clinic in San Antonio, Texas. These subjects anonymously completed a survey on childhood sexual experiences and physical violence, family substance abuse, violence toward others, and family quality. Overall, 50 percent had unwanted sexual experiences (USE) and wanted sexual experiences (WSE) before they turned 18 years of age. Subjects in the sexual abuse clinic had the highest percentage (90 percent) of unwanted or illegal sexual experiences, followed by family planning subjects (40 percent) and family practice subjects (30 percent). Both USE and WSE were related to family dysfunction scores, even when controlled for demographic influences. Family dysfunction scores were highest for those who reported USE and legal WSE and were lowest for those reported no USE or WSE. Case examples are cited, and implications of the findings for family intervention are discussed. 42 references and 5 tables