Abuse, neglect and witnessing violence during childhood within justice-involved samples: A meta-analysis of the prevalence and nature of gender differences and similarities

Abstract

Justice-involved populations have often experienced abuse and neglect and have often been exposed to violence in the home. However, reported prevalence rates have been inconsistent and boys and men, and girls and women reportedly experience different types of victimization, although results have been mixed. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize the literature on childhood victimization prevalence rates for boys and men, and girls and women. A systematic review of the literature led to 62 studies (170 effect sizes) that reported the rate of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence among justice-involved samples (230,581 boys and men and 74,608 girls and women). Rates of abuse, neglect and witnessed violence were high for both genders. The prevalence rates were higher for girls and women than boys and men in all categories: physical abuse (43.8% vs. 34.3%), sexual abuse (35.4% vs. 13.1%), emotional abuse (44.6% vs. 29.0%), child neglect (35.3% vs. 27.3%), witnessed violence (47.6% vs. 41.4%) and any childhood victimization (59.9% vs. 46.4%). Differences were statistically significant for physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and neglect. Despite the methodological limitations associated with many of the primary studies, the results highlight the need to implement trauma-responsive policies in correctional settings.