Characteristics Of Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Latent Profiles of Co-occurring Sexual Problems and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Young Women Exposed to Sexual Violence.

Sexual dysfunctions (SDs) have been noted to occur following exposure to sexual violence although how these conditions covary with other mental health conditions, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS), is relatively understudied. The current study examined patterns of co-occurring SDs and PTSS in a sample of 328 college-aged, female-identified survivors of adolescent/early adulthood sexual assault (ASA). Latent profile analysis was used to examine patterns of symptom endorsement of various types of SDs and PTSS at the symptom cluster level. Four profiles were identified: asymptomatic (41.2% of sample), sexually distressed + intrusions (24.7%), co-occurring (21%), and PTSS (13.1%). Profiles were compared to one another on various characteristics of sexual assault and social reactions from others following assault disclosure. Results indicated that those in the co-occurring symptom and PTSS profiles reported more severe ASA and more unsupportive social responses relative to the sexually distressed + intrusions and asymptomatic profiles. The asymptomatic profile was significantly less likely to have experienced rape relative to the other three profiles and was less likely to report instances where a close other treated them in a negative manner following assault disclosure. Results are discussed in light of mental health needs for young women who have experienced ASA, with implications discussed for future research and clinical services for university students.

Female Sexual Violence: A 12-Year Experience at a Single University Hospital in North-East Italy.

This retrospective study analyzed a case series of female sexual violence (SV) victims who were admitted to the emergency department of the University Hospital in Udine between January 2012 and April 2023. A total of 155 cases were divided into two groups according to their age: 115 adult victims and 40 minors. Compared with minors, adults had risk factors such as psychiatric disorders and past experience of SV, and reported bodily injuries and extragenital lesions more frequently. Moreover, a positive screening for sexually transmitted diseases and its association with genital injuries turned out to be significantly more present among adult victims than minors. In contrast, victims younger than 18 years tended to delay seeking medical help and more often did not report genital penetration. To conclude, a deeper knowledge of the different characteristics of sexual abuse among female adults and minors may help us to understand what the focus of prevention programs and public awareness campaigns should be.

Contexts and Characteristics of Imaged-Based Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children: Incident Dynamics in a National Sample.

This paper describes incident characteristics and dynamics associated with six specific forms of image-based sexual exploitation and abuse of children (IBSEAC). Data were collected on a national sample of 2639 individuals aged 18-to-28 from a probability-based online panel. Respondents completed a self-administered survey questionnaire, providing detailed follow-up information on their experiences of image-based sexual victimization before the age of 18. A total of 607 incidents of IBSEAC were included in the analyses. Findings show substantial diversity in incident characteristics within and across the six forms of IBSEAC (nonconsensual sharing of sexual images, nonconsensual taking or making of images, forced image recruitment, threatened sharing, voluntary image sharing with an older adult, and commercial sexual exploitation involving images). Some notable patterns include frequent involvement of perpetrators who are other youth or young adults, who are known in-person to the victim, and who are intimate partners. The diversity and complexity of dynamics revealed in this study underscores the need for careful design and evaluation of prevention programs and the core messages directed at youth.

Sexual assault characteristics and posttraumatic stress symptoms among collegiate women: The role of posttraumatic cognitions.

Although it is well-established that sexual assault is a risk factor for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and other negative mental health outcomes, research is needed to help identify which individuals are most likely to experience ongoing distress following sexual assault. Negative cognitions following trauma may be influenced by sexual assault characteristics and have been shown to be associated with PTSS. The present study examined whether sexual assault characteristics were associated with PTSS by way of posttraumatic cognitions in a sample of 475 female college students who had experienced a sexual assault since the age of 14 years. Participants completed an online survey that included questions about sexual assault characteristics (i.e., whether the perpetrator used force, whether they experienced a freeze response), posttraumatic cognitions, and PTSS. Path analysis revealed that survivors who indicated they froze during the assault reported higher levels of PTSS, total effect = .28, p < .001, direct effect = .19, p < .001; posttraumatic cognitions regarding others, indirect effect = .02, p = .047, and other-safety, indirect effect = .05, p = .003, partially accounted for this association. Only the direct effect of perpetrator use of force on PTSS was statistically significant, total effect = .23, p = .090, direct effect = .16, p = .009; none of the indirect effects were statistically significant, ps = .063-.669. The results support that assault characteristics are associated with postassault outcomes and are consistent with the cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Distinguishing Types of Sexual Assault Among Young People: A Latent Class Analysis Approach

Scientific evidence on the incident-specific characteristics of sexual assault during youth is limited. Using latent class analysis, this article contributes to this research agenda by (1) developing a typology of sexual assaults by both peers and adults and (2) examining how assault types are associated with adverse life outcomes. The analysis is based on 1,402 cases of sexual assault reported in two population-based surveys among 18–19-year-olds in Norway. Six latent classes of assault were identified: (1) peer sexual contact while intoxicated (33.3%), (2) peer sexual penetration while intoxicated (25.5%), (3) severe violent assault by peer (15.1%), (4) assault in romantic relationship (13.0%), (5) severe pressure by younger adult (7.4%) and (6) assault by older adult (5.7%). All assault types were related to adverse outcomes in the realms of mental and physical health, social relationships and substance use, with the most adverse outcomes in the class containing severe violent assaults.

Characteristics of Sexual Assault Among Men Receiving a Forensic Medical Examination

ABSTRACT Sexual assault is a form of violence disproportionately perpetrated against women by men; however, men also experience high rates of sexual victimization. While recent research exploring victimization of sexual assault among men does exist, little is known about situational characteristics and consequences surrounding men’s assault experiences. Therefore, the current study examines narratives of men’s sexual assault to further understand the unique experiences of men receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination. To accomplish this, we conducted a retrospective medical chart review of sexual assault narratives from N = 45 men receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination at a large academic medical institution in the southeastern United States. Three general constructs were identified within the records: a) Perpetrator use of coercive tactics, b) Memory loss, and c) Contextual factors. Nested within these constructs, five specific themes emerged, including: a1) Use of weapons and physical force; a2) Tactical administration of alcohol and drugs; b1) Difficulties remembering assault; c1) Consensual sexual activity turned non-consensual; c2) Incarceration. Findings from the present study common identified characteristics of sexual assaults among men receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination, including coercive tactics used by perpetrators, consequences of sexual assault, and high-risk settings for male victimization.

A Study of Psychological Problems, Resilience, and Stress-Coping Levels in Sexually Abused Adolescents According to the Characteristics of Sexual Abuse

A Study of Psychological Problems, Resilience, and Stress-Coping Levels in Sexually Abused Adolescents According to the Characteristics of Sexual Abuse

Classification of Crimes against Sexual Inviolability and Sexual Freedom of the Individual under a Note to Article 131 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

The paper considers certain aspects of the classification of sexual crimes, due to the note to Article 131 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on equating persons under 12 years of age with those in a helpless state. Using practical examples, the features of various objective characteristics of sexual assaults are identified, combined on the basis of the analyzed note under the action of one norm — Article 132 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. By virtue of the note under study, indecent acts of persons in relation to the specified age, including those committed without contact, constituted the jurisdiction of the norm on violent acts of a sexual nature. The external circumstances of the acts that currently constitute violent sexual assaults indicate their significant difference. According to the author of the paper, a law enforcement officer should be able to impose punishment for a crime based on the immediate characteristics of the committed act, and, taking into account the broad collective construction of Article 132 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, be able to impose a less severe punishment than exists today. Reducing the terms in the considered compositions will make it possible, firstly, to proportionately determine the punishment for committing contactless intellectual (contactless) depraved acts against persons under the age of 12, and, secondly, restore the hierarchy of severity of punishments for acts, based on the importance of the good protected by law. Measures are proposed to change the legal technique of constructing the norms of Chapter 18 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, aimed at independently fixing violent acts of a sexual nature against persons under the age of 12. The author substantiates the expediency of including in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation an independent norm on violent crimes of a sexual nature committed against a minor.

The effect of the covid-19 pandemic on applications to the children’s advocacy center

The purpose of the study is to determine and compare the characteristics of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases who applied to the children’s advocacy center (CAC) before and during the pandemic. The population and sample of this descriptive, retrospective study consists of the files of children who came to Burdur CAC for CSA between April 1, 2019-March 31, 2020 and April 1, 2020-March 31, 2021. A total of 171 files were examined in study. Data were collected using the Data Collection Form developed by the researchers. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Man Whitney U and Bonferroni tests were used for the analysis of the data. Prior to the study, permission was obtained from the Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Directorate, and Ethics Committee. The results showed that that 113 out of 171 children came to CAC before pandemic, and the number of children who came to CAC decreased during the pandemic (n=58). It was found that 60.8% of children were exposed to non-penetrative sexual abuse, and the number of sexual abuse decreased during pandemic process compared to pre-pandemic period. Regarding the characteristics of perpetrators; mean age was 32.6±16.1 years and 98.8% of them were males. It was also found that both before and during pandemic, children were mostly abused by their friends/lovers, and most of the abuse took place in home of the perpetrator. Those who reported abuse before and during pandemic were found to demonstrate statistically significant differences (p&lt;0.001). Most of the notifications were found to be made by teachers (n=69) before pandemic, while number of teachers’ notifications decreased (n=9) during pandemic process, and the most notifications were made by mothers and fathers (n=23). In the future, it is recommended to carry out studies to determine types of CSA faced by children in digital environments before, during and after pandemic.

Clinical Stakes of Sexual Abuse in Adolescent Psychiatry.

The extent and nature of sexual abuse (SA) and its consequences in psychiatry are still poorly described in adolescence. This article describes the frequency of SA reported in an adolescent population hospitalized in psychiatry, and assesses its links with the severity of mental disorders and the medical issues of these adolescents. The study includes 100 patients for whom SA has been mentioned, among all patients aged 13 to 17 years old hospitalized for about 4 years. The characteristics of sexual abuse were correlated with the medical severity of the patients, as well as the number, the duration of their hospitalization(s), and the time until disclosure. The results show the central place of SA in adolescent psychiatry, with a prevalence of 28.5% and a cumulative hospital stay which is five times longer than average. Correlations have been observed between the number of suicide attempts and the number of abuses reported. The medical severity of patients is significantly increased when the named aggressor is an adult. The number of hospitalizations is positively correlated with the number of reported abuses, as well as with the intrafamilial and adult status of the perpetrator. Finally, an early age of onset, repeated abuse, and the intrafamilial nature of the abuse are associated with a longer time to disclosure. The severity of adolescent psychiatric situation is statistically in favor of a history of SA, which should therefore be actively explored during care.

"I Know It's Hard to Believe, But the Monster Who Abused Me is My Mother:" Experiences of Being Sexually Abused as a Child by a Female.

In the present study we sought to shed light on the experience of adults who were sexually abused by females. Narratives in the current study were chosen from a large set of narratives (n = 505) that were submitted to the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry on CSA. Twenty-eight (n = 28) narratives of adults who experienced CSA committed by females were included in the study and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Two main themes were identified: (1) adults who as children experienced CSA committed by females, and (2) personal, interpersonal, and social constructions of the abuse. Most of the narratives included intrafamilial abuse, with half of the participants reporting that their mother was the one who committed the CSA, which often occurred during daily routine activities, with the main abuse scene being the shower/bathroom. Participants described various abuse experiences including the experience of powerlessness, "standing together," and captivity. Finally, participants discussed how social constructions of gender impacted how they understood and experienced the abuse. Child sexual abuse committed by females was described by the participants as having serious consequences for their lives. Participants shared how perceived gender roles and social scripts have an important role in casting doubt on the existence and reliability of CSA experiences committed by females. Findings from the current study help to identify key characteristics of sexual abuse that was conducted by females, and suggests social mechanisms that may help explain why perpetration by females is understood and treated differently than perpetration by males.

Prevalence of Child Contact Sexual Abuse in the Spanish Region of Andalusia

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of child sexual abuse (CSA) in Andalusia, Spain’s most populated region. A sample of 817 adults (281 male; M age = 34.7; SD = 13.86) completed the Child Sexual Abuse Experiences Questionnaire. Because the sample was unbalanced, we performed post-stratification by gender, resulting in 562 participants (50% male). Overall, 38.8% of the sample reported at least one type of contact abuse experience, with prevalence ranging from 22% for being fondled to 3.9% for being forced to perform a sexual act involving penetration. The first episode of CSA most commonly occurred between age 6 and 11 years, except for penetration. The majority of reported experiences were repeated and perpetrated by a male. More than half of the victims did not label their experience as sexual abuse, and this apparent lack of awareness about what constitutes abuse was particularly evident among male victims. The prevalence of CSA in Andalusia is higher than for Spain as a whole, highlighting the need to raise public awareness through prevention programs.

Prevalence of Online Sexual Offenses Against Children in the US

Sexual abuse is increasingly facilitated by technology, but the prevalence and dynamics of such offenses have not been well delineated, making it difficult to design prevention strategies. To examine the frequency and characteristics of online and technology-facilitated sexual abuse against children and youth. In this nationally representative online survey study performed from November 19 to December 29, 2021, young adults aged 18 to 28 years were asked retrospectively about their childhood (<18 years) experiences of online and technology-facilitated abuse. The 2639 participants were sampled from an online panel. Participants were asked questions about 11 different kinds of online and technology-facilitated sexual abuse with follow-up questions about their dynamics and offenders. Prevalence rates were calculated for several cross-cutting concepts (online child sexual abuse, image-based sexual abuse, self-produced child sexual abuse images, nonconsensual sexting, online grooming by adults, revenge pornography, sextortion, and online commercial sexual exploitation). Survey weights were applied to obtain population prevalence estimates. A total of 2639 individuals (48.5% male, 49.8% female, and 1.8% other gender; 23.7% Hispanic, 12.6% non-Hispanic Black, 53.9% non-Hispanic White, 4.8% other race, and 5.0% ≥2 races) were surveyed. Childhood (before 18 years of age) prevalence rates were as follows: online child sexual abuse, 15.6% (SE, 1.0%); image-based sexual abuse, 11.0% (SE, 0.9%); self-produced child sexual abuse images, 7.2% (SE, 0.7%); nonconsensual sexting, 7.2% (SE, 0.7%); online grooming by adults, 5.4% (SE, 0.5%); revenge pornography, 3.1% (SE, 0.5%); sextortion, 3.5% (SE, 0.6%); and online commercial sexual exploitation, 1.7% (SE, 0.3%). The prime age of vulnerability across all categories was 13 to 17 years. Perpetrators in most categories were predominantly dating partners, friends, and acquaintances, not online strangers. The results of this national survey study suggest that a considerable portion of youth have experienced online child sexual abuse. Professionals planning prevention and intervention strategies for online sexual abuse should understand that dynamics include diverse episodes that are often extensions of dating abuse, sexual bullying, and sexual harassment, not only events perpetrated by adult internet predators.

Analysis of Sexually Assault Patients Presenting at a Secondary Hospital, South Africa

Sexual assault and rape remain a huge problem in South Africa. However, only a few studies have investigated the association of demographic features and characteristics of sexual assault on the victims. The prevalence of rape in women globally is 7.2%, and in Sub-Saharan Africa 3 (21%). The objective was to determine the sexual assault characteristics and the relationship between the sexual assault characteristics and the socio-demographics of patients who presented for counselling. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was undertaken by reviewing 501 patient files who presented to a secondary-level hospital. A data capture sheet was used to collect information. The analysis included descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. The mean age was 21.5 ± 12.3 years. The women that presented to the hospital were black (92.4%), single (95.4%), unemployed (83.8%), and had a school education (27.6%). Only 4% of the participants were males. Fifty-eight percent of the participants reported that sexual assault had taken place between a Friday and a Sunday, between 18.00 to 05.59 hours. Women older than 20 years were three times more susceptible to sexual assault at night (p = 0.00). Young women were sexually assaulted more frequently at the perpetrator’s place (p = 0.01), and at party venues or in cars (p = 0.01). Health workers play a big role through preventive, educative, and curative measures. Health talks in educational institutes and public areas should be enforced. Safety and security officials should consider the identified risk factors for sexual assault and targeted interventions. Keywords: Crisis centre, Level two hospital, Sexual assault, Secondary hospital.

Narrating and Remembrance in the Face of Abuse in the Church

Contrary to the priority of protecting the institutional Church and its clergy, prevailing for decades and centuries, today the testimonies of victims of sexual abuse are increasingly being heard. This article focuses on autobiographical accounts of women, published in recent years, who as adults suffered from sexual and spiritual violence within the Catholic Church. It analyses characteristics of spiritual and sexual abuse, identifies specific constellations and a misogynistic theology. Complementary to this, traumatic experiences of flight and expulsion, as described by the theologian Katharina Elliger, are examined. Thus, this article describes the meaning of narrating one’s traumatic experiences for the authors themselves and suggests collective remembrance as an appropriate reaction of the Church and the society.

Characteristics of sexual assault among young people aged under 18 years of age in Hertfordshire.

Sexual Health Hertfordshire provides integrated services for young people (YP) aged under 18 years at three sites. From January 2019 to June 2020, we saw 3483 YP, 60 of whom attended as a result of a sexual assault. Half were under 16years, 87% female and 81% of white ethnic origin. Of this group, for 50%, this was their first sexual experience, increasing to 70% in the under-16s. Forty-three (72%) of the victims knew 46 of their assailants, and 75% of the assaults took place in a familiar place. Eighty-five percent of victims had identifiable vulnerability factors. The rate of sexually transmitted infection (STI) was 7%. Themes identified included facilitation of the assault by others, blurring of boundaries between consent and coercion, school refusal and reports of a rape culture at some schools.

The nature and extent of sexual assault in the sky: Shining a light on a ‘black box’

Strikingly, federal data sources tracking the nature and extent of sexual assaults that occur aboard airlines are incomplete and typically not released to the public. In order to better understand this relatively hidden social phenomenon, we conducted a content analysis of media reports published over approximately a 20-year period (2000–2020). Within these media reports, we analyzed the incident characteristics of in-flight sexual assaults, reporting behaviors of victims, airline responses to victimization, and criminal justice processes such as adjudication. Findings reveal certain patterns in the coverage concerning victim and perpetrator characteristics, offense characteristics, flight information, and post-offense outcomes. In synthesizing study results, we apply tenets of routine activities theory (RAT) and the #MeToo perspective. We outline implications for future study and policy.

Fragmentation of the self: Characteristics of sexual assault and implications in self-drawing

The current study explored the extent to which sexually assaulted survivors' self-drawings can serve as an efficient tool to assess their mental states and psychopathology as characterized in the DAP-SPED (Naglieri et al., 1991, 1992). The sample was composed of 83 SA Israeli adult survivors. Hypothesis 1 (H1) predicted frequent distortions and omission of body parts, a disconnection between body parts, and a poor-quality line. Hypothesis 2 (H2) predicted a positive correlation between the number of indicators in the women's self-drawings and their levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Hypothesis 3 (H3) predicted a negative association between the number of indicators and women's levels of post-traumatic growth. Analysis of the drawings confirmed H1. The drawings lacked integration, tended to have a shadow around the body contour and/or were off-center. The figures were missing the torso, hands or feet with emphasized eyes or necks and chin. H2 and H3 were partially confirmed in that women whose drawings were characterized by omissions, cut-offs, and detached body parts scored higher on post-traumatic stress symptoms and evidenced a lower level of post-traumatic growth. Phenomenologically, the drawings were categorized into six groups (adapted, dramatic, strange, childish, unease, loneliness, and sad). Women in the dramatic drawings group had higher post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth. Women in the unease drawings group had the most elevated post-traumatic stress symptoms. Since SA survivors often turn to therapy without revealing the assault, draw oneself can provide the clinician with important insights into the physical and emotional aspects of the client.

Sexual abuse of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings: a 3-year analysis of incidents reported to the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate

ObjectivesTo explore characteristics of sexual abuse within residential settings for people with an intellectual disability and to map out measures undertaken and improvement plans made by healthcare organisations after sexual...

Racial Disparities in Sexual Assault Characteristics and Mental Health Care After Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Exams

Background: Sexual assault (SA) is common, but Black individuals might be at higher risk of SA and negative health sequalae. Racial differences in SA characteristics and health care utilization after SA are largely unknown. Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical records of 690 individuals (23.9% Black; 93.6% women) who received a SA medical forensic exam (SAMFE) at a southeastern U.S. hospital. We examined bivariate racial differences in SA characteristics and used zero-inflated Poisson regressions to estimate racial differences in mental health outpatient visits at the SAMFE hospital. Results: Among survivors of SA, Black survivors were more likely than White survivors to have been victimized by an intimate partner (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77, confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.02-3.07) and they had more post-SA outpatient mental health visits at the SAMFE hospital (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.70-2.47). Black survivors were less likely to report alcohol or drug use before the SA (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.28-0.62). In multivariable models, Black survivors trended toward more mental health visits than White survivors (IRR = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.82-2.44), but intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly moderated that association (IRR = 0.01, 95%CI = ≤0.001-0.03). Black survivors assaulted by an intimate partner were less likely to access mental health care than White IPV survivors. Conclusions: The hospital setting of a SAMFE could be a unique opportunity to serve Black survivors and reduce racial disparities in mental health sequelae, but additional support will be needed for Black survivors experiencing IPV. An intersectional, reproductive justice framework has the potential to address these challenges.