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Profiling Children Sexual Abuse in a Sample of University Students: A Study on Characteristic of Victims, Abusers, and Abuse Episodes

Author

Listed:
  • Angel Castro

    (Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain)

  • José David Moreno

    (Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain)

  • Berta Maté

    (Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain)

  • Javier Ibáñez-Vidal

    (Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain)

  • Juan Ramón Barrada

    (Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain)

Abstract

Because of its prevalence and its potential negative consequences, child sexual abuse (CSA) is a public health problem in every country in the world. Knowledge of the characteristics of abuse episodes (victim, abuser, relationship between them, type of sexual contact, duration, threat and/or use of force) is essential to specify the contents of intervention programs for the detection and reduction of the negative consequences of CSA. Starting with an initial sample of 1605 university students of both sexes (70.9% women, 29.1% men), aged between 18 and 26 years ( M = 21.1, SD = 2.2), 90 participants who had suffered an episode of CSA up to age 16 were selected (84.4% women, 15.6% men; M age = 21.1, SD = 2.2). It was found that: (1) there was a higher prevalence of CSA among women and that the victims’ average age when they suffered abuse was around 11 years; (2) the abusers were mostly male, close to the victims, and with an average of slightly less than 30 years; and (3) there was a significant proportion (25.6%) of CSA cases with penetration and in which force was used or threatened. These results are relevant, as they show that there is still a noteworthy prevalence of CSA cases on university campuses that needs to be addressed. Knowing the characteristics of these episodes is critical to implementing more effective interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Angel Castro & José David Moreno & Berta Maté & Javier Ibáñez-Vidal & Juan Ramón Barrada, 2021. "Profiling Children Sexual Abuse in a Sample of University Students: A Study on Characteristic of Victims, Abusers, and Abuse Episodes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4610-:d:544024
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Juan Ramón Barrada & Ángel Castro, 2020. "Tinder Users: Sociodemographic, Psychological, and Psychosexual Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Ángel Castro & Juan Ramón Barrada & Pedro J. Ramos-Villagrasa & Elena Fernández-del-Río, 2020. "Profiling Dating Apps Users: Sociodemographic and Personality Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-13, May.
    3. J. Barth & L. Bermetz & E. Heim & S. Trelle & T. Tonia, 2013. "The current prevalence of child sexual abuse worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(3), pages 469-483, June.
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    1. Pilar Rueda & Marta Ferragut & M. Victoria Cerezo & Margarita Ortiz-Tallo, 2021. "Child Sexual Abuse in Mexican Women: Type of Experience, Age, Perpetrator, and Disclosure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, June.

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