Depression in sexually abused youth has a complex etiology involving various mechanisms related to adverse familial psychosocial factors and the severity of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This study aimed to identify medi...Depression in sexually abused youth has a complex etiology involving various mechanisms related to adverse familial psychosocial factors and the severity of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This study aimed to identify mediating mechanisms between CSA severity, adverse familial psychosocial factors and depressive symptoms in Turkish children and adolescents who have experienced sexual abuse. The files of 340 CSA cases, aged 6-18, who applied to the forensic outpatient clinic between 2014-2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Psychiatric diagnoses were made according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Depressive symptoms were evaluated through clinical examinations and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Sexual abuse severity was measured with the Sexual Abuse Severity Score (SASS) algorithm based on the information obtained from files. Both intrafamilial violence (IFV) ( = 2.67, 95%CI [0.56-4.77]) and chaotic family environment (CFE) ( = 2.57, 95%CI [0.43-4.72]) had significant effects on CDI scores under significant and full-mediating effects of verbal/physical coercion ( = 1.16, 95%CI [0.17-2.81] for IFV→CDI; = 1.44, 95%CI [0.24-3.34] for CFE→CDI) and qualitative severity of sexual abuse ( = 0.91, 95%CI [0.17-2.06] for IFV→CDI; = 1.04, 95%CI [0.14-2.44] for CFE→CDI). However, total SASS had no significant mediation in the relationship between adverse familial psychosocial factors and CDI scores. These findings provide evidence that both IFV and CFE appear to have significant associations with depressive symptoms, within the significant mediating roles of both verbal/physical coercion and qualitative severity of sexual abuse.
Pinto-Cortez C, Guerra C, Miranda JK
… +2 more, Varela J, Álvarez-Lister S
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Feb · PMID 40249083
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Chilean studies show high levels of sexual victimization among adolescents. Despite this, there is little research exploring differences between adolescents belonging to Indigenous communities and the general population....Chilean studies show high levels of sexual victimization among adolescents. Despite this, there is little research exploring differences between adolescents belonging to Indigenous communities and the general population. This is relevant because 12.8% of the Chilean population is from an Indigenous community. In this study, data from 13,385 adolescents all over the country (15.8% indigenous) were analyzed. The prevalence of seven forms of sexual victimization throughout life was examined. Adolescents from Indigenous communities presented a higher prevalence of statutory rape, sexual abuse by an unknown adult, sexual abuse by a known adult, and rape although the effect size was small in all cases and the difference in prevalence rates was less than 2.5%. The results suggest that although attention should be paid to these differences, factors that may contribute to the vulnerability of adolescents from both groups should be explored. For example, in this study, adolescents from Indigenous communities came from a lower income segment compared to their non-Indigenous peers. In Chile, extreme poverty is associated with vulnerability factors for abuse in adolescents of any ethnic origin, so public programs and policies should consider not only ethnicity, but also other factors such as gender, socioeconomic level, and social support network.
This study explores whether components of lifestyle exposure theory can operate as predictors of adolescent sexual violence perpetration. Multivariate logistic regression models for rare events were used to assess the im...This study explores whether components of lifestyle exposure theory can operate as predictors of adolescent sexual violence perpetration. Multivariate logistic regression models for rare events were used to assess the impact that risky behaviors, victimization, and sexual activity have on adolescent sexual violence perpetration and to explore sex differences in offending. In a sample of 85,004 U.S. adolescents' responses to the 2022 minnesota Student Survey, multivariate logistic analyses for rare events revealed that older students and males were more likely to engage in sexual violence. Several risky behaviors (i.e. fighting, drug use, running away from home), exposure to domestic violence, parental and sexual abuse, and sexual behaviors increased the risk of adolescent sexual violence perpetration. Interestingly, some factors had slightly similar effects across sex (i.e. age, running away, parental and sexual abuse, early sexual initiation, and transactional sex). The findings are discussed in the context of existing research on adolescents who commit sexual assault, with recommendations for policy and future research areas.
Experiencing childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for the development of substance use disorder (SUD). Men in particular tend to use substances in an effort to self-medicate trauma-related distress. Data suggest...Experiencing childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for the development of substance use disorder (SUD). Men in particular tend to use substances in an effort to self-medicate trauma-related distress. Data suggest that up to 20-25% of men in SUD treatment have histories of CSA. Male survivors of sexual violence face unique challenges related to gender norms, masculinity, and homophobia that influence the healing process. Although there is a growing body of research on the process of male healing, no studies up to this point have specifically explored how men in long-term addiction recovery describe what it means to heal from sexual trauma. To fill this gap, this study is built on semi-structured interviews with 25 men in recovery from SUD with histories of CSA. Grounded theory procedures revealed four overall themes of the healing journey from sexual trauma of men in SUD recovery: (1) ; (2) ; (3) ; and (4) . Results suggest that healing from CSA for male survivors in recovery from SUD occurs in the context of community when survivors come forward and beat the shame associated with sexual trauma. Findings also underline the need to continue to challenge societal misbeliefs surrounding the rates and effects of sexual violence perpetrated on boys. Future research should explore differences in the male healing journey based on perpetrator characteristics and should also investigate feasible interventions to address healing from CSA in SUD treatment.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Jan · PMID 40126265
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Sexual assaults are traumatic events disproportionately affecting young adults and college populations, with one in five American students experiencing sexual assault during their college years. Sexual assault affects fe...Sexual assaults are traumatic events disproportionately affecting young adults and college populations, with one in five American students experiencing sexual assault during their college years. Sexual assault affects feelings of institutional support post victimization; however, no study has investigated whether institution type affects the relationship between victimization and perceived support. Four-year institutions offer a more immersive college experience and as such might feel more supported by their institutions than their two-year college peers. Using multiple linear regression, we hypothesized that experiencing sexual assault would affect institutional support more at four-year campuses compared to two-year campuses. Controlling for relevant demographic factors, we found significant simple effects and an interaction in predicting campus climate perceptions. Students at the four-year campus and students who had experienced sexual reported less institutional support than their two-year peers. Opposing our hypothesis, two-year campus sexual assault survivors felt less supported than their four-year campus peers. Historically, two-year campuses have fewer support options such as health centers and campus police post assault. Future research should seek to replicate whether these findings represent other institutions and explore how to better support assault survivors on campuses with fewer resources.
Aranda-Hughes V, Edwards K, Lim S
… +2 more, Herrington R, Waterman E
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Feb · PMID 40025680
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This study drew on the resilience perspective to investigate whether connection to culture and social support moderated the relationship between Indigenous caregivers' history of child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization an...This study drew on the resilience perspective to investigate whether connection to culture and social support moderated the relationship between Indigenous caregivers' history of child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization and outcomes critical to child development (i.e. caregivers' parenting practices). Participants were 119 Indigenous caregivers in the Northern Great Plains region in the U.S. The study found that social support was associated with aspects of parenting practices and that connection to culture was a significant moderator. These findings highlight the protective role of connection to culture in mitigating potentially negative effects of CSA on parenting practices, particularly within Indigenous communities. The results also underscore the importance of recognizing and drawing on cultural strengths in interventions designed to support survivors of CSA.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Feb · PMID 40025649
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This study assesses the impact of group therapy on young survivors of sexual abuse at a youth clinic in Sweden, focusing on self-reported outcomes and implications for primary health care. Interviews with 12 female parti...This study assesses the impact of group therapy on young survivors of sexual abuse at a youth clinic in Sweden, focusing on self-reported outcomes and implications for primary health care. Interviews with 12 female participants aged 17-24 provided insights into the benefits of group therapy, including reduced feelings of loneliness and shame, enhanced understanding of abuse reactions and trajectories, and improved coping mechanisms. The findings support integrating group therapy into primary care settings alongside individual counseling, emphasizing the need for accessible, youth-oriented services with robust referral systems to effectively address the comprehensive psychosocial and health needs of young survivors.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Feb · PMID 40022504
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This qualitative study examined the perceptions of law enforcement officers who work with Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Texas, utilizing anonymous phone interviews with 20 participants to better explain their vie...This qualitative study examined the perceptions of law enforcement officers who work with Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Texas, utilizing anonymous phone interviews with 20 participants to better explain their views on resources, funding, training, and stakeholder collaboration with Child Protective Services, the district attorney's office, medical personnel, and CAC staff. Five themes emerged: lack of funding, specialized caseload, high turnover and personnel needs, emotional toll, and communication. These themes are discussed, and recommendations are made for law enforcement administration, CAC practitioners, and CAC stakeholders. Key practitioner recommendations include administration understanding the time and specialization required for child abuse cases, smaller and more frequent trainings provided by the CACs to facilitate improved communication and collegiality between stakeholders, and increased funding for additional personnel and resources to benefit officer emotional wellbeing. Limitations of this study and recommendations for future studies are also discussed.
Although some studies have investigated personality pathology in individuals who have committed sexual contact offenses against children, few examined whether personality pathology relates to different groups, including...Although some studies have investigated personality pathology in individuals who have committed sexual contact offenses against children, few examined whether personality pathology relates to different groups, including individuals who have committed child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) offenses. This study compared four male groups, namely a CSEM ( = 33), sexual contact ( = 30), non-sexual violent ( = 64), and community group ( = 143) using self-report questionnaires assessing personality pathology, including impairments in personality functioning (i.e. self-control, identity integration, responsibility, relational capacities, and social concordance), and pathological personality traits (i.e. psychopathic and narcissistic traits). Correlational and multivariate analyses of variance were conducted to examine group differences. No significant differences were found between the CSEM and sexual contact groups. Compared to the community group, the other three groups showed more impairments in personality functioning. The violent group reported higher levels of psychopathic and narcissistic traits than the other groups. The community group showed more overt narcissistic traits compared to the other groups. This study indicates no differences in personality pathology between the CSEM and sexual contact groups, suggesting that interventions may not need to vary between these groups. Replication and exploration of additional constructs are necessary before drawing definitive conclusions.
Raver A, Landström S, Adolfsson K
… +1 more, Strömwall LA
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Feb · PMID 39916393
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Rape victims often face secondary victimization when interacting with the legal and healthcare systems, a risk that is exacerbated by the attitudes and practices of the professionals they encounter. This study, drawing o...Rape victims often face secondary victimization when interacting with the legal and healthcare systems, a risk that is exacerbated by the attitudes and practices of the professionals they encounter. This study, drawing on responses ( = 237) from police employees, prosecutors, and healthcare personnel, aimed to investigate rape victim treatment from the perspective of these professionals. Our investigation was two-fold: through a web survey, we first examined how professionals' beliefs in a just world, acceptance of rape myths, and demographic factors influence their estimations of false reporting and trust in the justice system. We then used open-ended questions to identify perceived barriers, problematic practices, and areas for improvement within their professional roles and the overall system handling rape cases, providing both quantitative and qualitative data. Prosecutors and healthcare professionals reported significantly lower levels of estimations of false reports than police, with no significant difference between the two; additionally, prosecutors displayed the highest trust in the legal system, significantly greater than both police and healthcare professionals, whereas no significant difference was found between healthcare professionals and police. Overall, the professionals requested more specific knowledge on how to treat victims of rape and identified several perceived barriers (e.g. lack of resources, deprioritizing, and legislation) and problematic practices (e.g. interview practices and medical examination practices) that may cause secondary victimization. Practical implications for meeting and treating rape victims are discussed.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Feb · PMID 39905755
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The current study examined whether in-person social reactions to disclosure of sexual violence vary as a function of sexual identity (heterosexual vs. bisexual+ survivors) and gender (women vs. nonbinary survivors). A se...The current study examined whether in-person social reactions to disclosure of sexual violence vary as a function of sexual identity (heterosexual vs. bisexual+ survivors) and gender (women vs. nonbinary survivors). A secondary aim of the current study was to examine whether sexual identity and/or gender moderated the relation between social reactions to disclosure and various negative psychological/behavioral outcomes. (i.e. symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), heavy episodic drinking, cannabis use). Participants were 472 bisexual+ or heterosexual survivors who identified as women (cisgender and transgender women) or gender nonbinary. Independent sample t-tests and three simple linear regressions were used to examine the study aims. Nonbinary survivors reported higher levels of social reactions that involved turning against the survivor and providing unsupportive acknowledgment of the sexual violence experience, compared to women survivors. Both bisexual+ and nonbinary survivors reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms and greater cannabis use compared to heterosexual and women survivors, respectively. For bisexual+ survivors, reactions that turned against the survivors were associated with lower levels of PTSD symptoms and higher levels of heavy episodic drinking. For bisexual+ survivors, reactions involving unsupportive acknowledgment were associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms and lower heavy episodic drinking. The current study highlights how identification as bisexual+ or as nonbinary may influence in-person social reactions received upon disclosure of sexual violence as well as psychological outcomes following sexual violence.
Prince JR, McKee GB, Stappenbeck CA
… +2 more, Gill-Hopple K, Gilmore AK
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 · PMID 39878438
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Characteristics associated with individuals who frequent the emergency department at higher rates have been well established; however, factors associated with greater emergency department visits following a recent sexual...Characteristics associated with individuals who frequent the emergency department at higher rates have been well established; however, factors associated with greater emergency department visits following a recent sexual assault are largely unknown. The current study evaluated the associations between pre-assault factors such as substance use and physical injuries, assault characteristics such as genital injury, non-genital injury, alcohol or drug use involvement, intimate partner involvement, and emergency department visits one-year after a sexual assault medical forensic exam (SAMFE). The current study included a medical record review of 123 individuals who received a SAMFE at a hospital in the United States. Demographic variables, characteristics of the sexual assault, pre-sexual assault diagnoses, frequency of SAMFEs, and post-SAMFE emergency department visits were examined. A negative binomial regression was used to examine these factors on post-SAMFE emergency department visits. Results indicated that alcohol or drug use during an assault was associated with fewer emergency department visits post-SAMFE. Substance use and physical injury disorders pre-SAMFE were positively associated with post-SAMFE emergency department visits. Findings provide important insight for prevention strategies to potentially increase access to mental and physical health care post-assault to reduce the risk of repeated emergency department visits among recent survivors of sexual assault.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39849829
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While media reports of educator sexual misconduct (ESM) often note educators' use of electronic communication, few have systematically explored electronic communication use in ESM. This study describes educators who use...While media reports of educator sexual misconduct (ESM) often note educators' use of electronic communication, few have systematically explored electronic communication use in ESM. This study describes educators who use electronic communication when committing sexual misconduct and the nature of this communication. The author inductively and deductively coded Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board disciplinary action records ( = 74) to descriptively and statistically analyze electronic communication use by educator characteristics. In this sample, most educators used electronic communication and committed misconduct both in-person and through electronic means. Educators who were male, taught middle school, or held a Rank III certification more often committed misconduct solely through electronic communication. Future research recommendations and ESM prevention, such as proactive policies and trainings targeting electronic communication, are discussed.
Mushy SE, Lukumay GG, Massae AF
… +9 more, Mkoka DA, Rohloff CT, Kohli N, Mgopa LR, Mwakawanga DL, Mkonyi E, Ross MW, Trent M, Rosser BRS
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39817664
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Tanzania mandated reporting laws aim to identify and address child abuse, yet healthcare students' awareness and reporting are limited. This study assessed training's impact on their knowledge of reporting laws and handl...Tanzania mandated reporting laws aim to identify and address child abuse, yet healthcare students' awareness and reporting are limited. This study assessed training's impact on their knowledge of reporting laws and handling confidential child abuse data. The study involved 412 medical and nursing students in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), with 206 participants receiving sexual health training and a waitlist control group of equal size receiving no intervention. Baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments evaluated knowledge of mandatory reporting laws and recording practices. At the 3-month follow-up, the control group showed minimal knowledge improvement (+7.5% for item 1, -6% for item 2), whereas the intervention group showed significant gains (23.7% for item 1, 0.7% for item 2). Additionally, notable disparity in total scores for reporting and recording between the groups emerged from baseline to follow-up ( = -3.682, < .001, Cohen's d = 0.365). The intervention group ( = 0.527, SD = 1.630) had a larger mean difference score than the control group ( = -0.044, SD = 1.499). Therefore, the training significantly improved students' knowledge of mandatory reporting laws and the recording of clients' confidential information.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39744923
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Although men and women generally receive positive and negative reactions to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure (Filipas & Ullman, 2001), negative reactions are more common (Gagnier & Collin-Vézina, 2016). Negative d...Although men and women generally receive positive and negative reactions to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) disclosure (Filipas & Ullman, 2001), negative reactions are more common (Gagnier & Collin-Vézina, 2016). Negative disclosure reactions - such as disbelieving, retaliating against, or distracting the survivor - are both prevalent and associated with poorer post-abuse recovery and well-being (Kennedy & Prock, 2018; Ullman, 2010). For male survivors in particular, the responses one receives from others following disclosure may complicate one's sense of masculinity. Thus, the present study explored the nature of the association between negative reactions to CSA disclosure and masculinity norm adherence between men and women who are CSA survivors. Participants ( = 299; = 35.9; 52.8% women; 77.9% White) - who disclosed their CSA to at least one person - completed self-report measures pertaining to social reactions to CSA disclosure and adherence to various masculinity norms. Negative reactions to CSA disclosure were significantly, positively correlated with Winning ( = .20), Playboy ( = .42), Heterosexual Self-Presentation ( = .42), and Power over Women ( = .71) masculinity norms. Moderation analyses revealed that at low levels of negative reactions, men endorsed higher Power Over Women and Playboy adherence; at high levels of negative reactions, women endorsed these norms almost as much as men did. Findings highlight important differences in adherence that shed light on the impact of negative disclosures on masculine ideologies.
J Child Sex Abus
· 2024 Nov · PMID 39737709
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Research has shown child sexual abuse (CSA) within youth-serving organizations (YSOs) often went undetected for decades, which may in part be due to the use of sexual grooming behaviors. One such YSO is the Boy Scouts of...Research has shown child sexual abuse (CSA) within youth-serving organizations (YSOs) often went undetected for decades, which may in part be due to the use of sexual grooming behaviors. One such YSO is the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), with nearly 100,000 individuals alleging CSA within this organization. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of CSA within the BSA and the presence of sexual grooming behaviors as described by the Sexual Grooming Model. Files ( = 156) were coded from a public database of volunteers who were expelled from BSA due to suspicions of CSA from the 1960s through 1990s. Results provided an overview of who perpetrated and experienced CSA, as well as characteristics of the abuse itself. There was evidence of sexual grooming in many cases; behaviors related to gaining access to and isolating the child were most common, followed by tactics used to develop trust and desensitize the child. These findings are discussed as they pertain to the identification and prevention of CSA, including the importance of providing training informed by sexual grooming that may occur in YSOs, screening and monitoring individuals seeking placements in YSOs, establishing procedures that limit alone time with children, and policies prohibiting volunteer's involvement in the changing and bathing of minors.
Wong E, Healy-Cullen S, deVisser R
… +2 more, MacNeela P, Dawson K
J Child Sex Abus
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39722579
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The current study examines the way sexual harassment, a specific facet of educator sexual misconduct, is experienced by secondary school students. The qualitative component of an online survey was completed by participan...The current study examines the way sexual harassment, a specific facet of educator sexual misconduct, is experienced by secondary school students. The qualitative component of an online survey was completed by participants aged 18+ who had attended secondary school in Ireland ( = 85) or the UK ( = 74), and who were recruited to participate via social media. Participants were asked to describe the incident of educator-student sexual harassment they experienced that had the greatest effect on them. Data were analyzed using a deductive approach to thematic analysis and coded into topic summary themes using Fitzgerald's (1995) sexual harassment victimization measure and its respective sexual harassment categories. We also produced an additional theme-. Collectively, these findings can inform educational policies and reporting processes for educator-student sexual harassment, to ultimately support the safety and well-being of all students.