Adolescent Male Perpetrators of Rape in the General Population and Their Young Adult Outcomes

Abstract

OF THE DISSERTATION Adolescent Male Perpetrators of Rape in the General Population and Their Young Adult Outcomes by Karen M. Matta Oshima Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work Washington University in St. Louis, 2013 Professor Melissa Jonson-Reid, Chair The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 10.6 % of adult women and 2.1% of adult men were sexually assaulted in their lifetimes (Basile, Chen, Black, & Saltzman, 2007). Approximately 16% of single offender sexual assaults and rapes and nearly 32% of multiple offender sexual assault and rapes were perpetrated by adolescents and young adults in 2007 (Maston & Klaus, 2010). Researchers estimated sexually violent behavior among adolescent males in the general population at rates of 2.2 to 10% (Ageton, 1983; Banyard, Cross, & Modecki, 2006; Borowsky, Hogan, & Ireland, 1997). Despite the scope of the problem, there is limited understanding of the risk and protective factors associated with the perpetration of rape among non-incarcerated adolescent populations. This hampers the development of effective means of prevention and intervention with groups that are not already incarcerated or engaged in mental health treatment. Moreover, the data on the prevalence of rape in the general adolescent population needs updating—the only study using a nationally representative sample was over three decades old (Ageton, 1983). In this study data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) was used to examine risk and protective factors for male adolescent rape perpetrated iv against females. Individual factors, family environment, peer relationships, and neighborhood characteristics were examined for juveniles reporting perpetrating rape as compared to other selfreported violent and non-violent delinquents and non-offending adolescents using logistic regression analysis. Longer term trajectories are also important to inform intervention. Among male youth reporting adolescent onset rape, young adult indicators of later adjustment were explored—high school graduation, full time employment and school, stable romantic cohabiting, inter-personal physical and sexual violence and arrest. These young adult outcomes were analyzed using binary logistic regression approaches. Findings have implications for tailoring programs for the prevention of rape as well as intervention with adolescents who perpetrate rape.