Childhood sexual abuse in adolescents adjudicated for sexual offenses: mental health consequences and sexual offending behaviors

Authors:
MORAIS Hugo B., et al
Journal article citation:
Sexual Abuse a Journal of Research and Treatment, 30(1), 2018, pp.23-42.
Publisher:
Sage

The current study examined the effects of child sexua abuse (CSA) on 498 male adolescents adjudicated for sexual offences who represent the small portion of CSA survivors who engage in sexual offences. The prevalence of internalising symptoms, parental attachment difficulties, specific sexual offending behaviours, and risk for sexually offending were compared among participants with and without a history of CSA. Results indicated that participants with a history of CSA were more likely to be diagnosed with major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder than those who did not report a history of CSA. A history of CSA was also positively correlated with risk for sexually offending and with specific offense patterns and consensual sexual behaviours. No significant differences emerged on parental attachment difficulties. These results highlight that adolescents adjudicated for sexual offences with a history of CSA present with differences in sexual and psychological functioning as well as markedly different offending patterns when compared with those without a CSA history. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
young sex offenders, child sexual abuse, mental health, mental health problems, survivors;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
United States
Link:
Journal home page
DOI:
10.1177/1079063215625224
ISSN online:
1573-286X
ISSN print:
1079-0632

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