Traumagenic Dynamics in Adult Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse vs. Ado lescent Male Sex Offenders with Similar Histories

Abstract

Adolescent sex offenders with a history of childhood sexual abuse have tradition ally been treated with coercive and confrontational interventions in correctional settings. This trend is related to the criminal nature of their offenses and is based on the assumption that they are very different from female survivors of sexual abuse. One hundred twenty female childhood sexual abuse survivors and 60 adolescent male sexual offenders with a history of childhood sexual abuse were assessed using the Trauma-Related Beliefs Questionnaire. ANOVA (p < .001) and univariate F tests comparing subscales suggested that male sex offenders hold high levels of traumagenic beliefs common in females, especially related to trust and betrayal. MANOVA (p < .01) and subsequent univariate F tests found male participants differed from female survivors on Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Vol. 33(2), 2001. Pp. 33–45. Ó 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. measures of stigmatization and traumatic sexualization, but were not significantly different from female subjects on measures of trust and powerlessness.