Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Sexual Offenders: Associations With Sexual Recidivism Risk and Psychopathology

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are increasingly recognized as a public health crisis. Cumulative effects of these experiences lead to a wide range of deleterious physical and psychological outcomes. Prior research has identified higher prevalence rates of ACEs and increased criminal behavior in samples of individuals who have committed sexual offenses. In a sample of civilly committed individuals who have committed sexual offenses ( N = 317), we examined the prevalence of ACEs (cumulative scores and the two components of child harm and family dysfunction) and their association with risk for sexual recidivism and adult psychopathology. ACEs were much more prevalent in this sample compared with the general population and to lower risk samples of individuals who had committed sexual offenses. Although ACE scores were unrelated to risk for sexual recidivism, higher ACE scores were associated with increased risk of psychopathology, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance use disorders, and Antisocial Personality Disorder. ACEs related to family dysfunction were uniquely associated with Alcohol Use Disorder and the presence of a dual diagnosis of a paraphilia and personality disorder. Results suggest that higher risk individuals who commit sexual offenses may have greater need for trauma-informed models of care that recognize the effect of these experiences on their mental health and offense-related behavior.

Exploring the associations between dark triad personality and psychopathology in convicted offenders: Identifying their role in reincarceration

“…Therefore, in addition to substance abuse, alcohol abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder were the psychopathological syndromes with the highest incidence on reincarceration. These results are interesting and in line with previous research where one of the most notable risk factors for recidivist and antisocial behaviour is substance use and abuse (Breedvelt et al, 2014;Koehler et al, 2014;Tanner-Smith et al, 2016) Kahn et al, 2020;Wolff et al, 2015). This suggests that the connection with psychopathology and reincarceration indicates a higher probability of multiple jail admissions among offenders who presented symptoms of both conditions.…”

Sexual Dysfunctions and Problematic Sexuality in Personality Disorders and Pathological Personality Traits: A Systematic Review

“…Pathological trait domains of the PID-5, negative affectivity excluded, were greater in those with a CSA experience. Novelty seeking and persistence dimensions of the TCI-125 were higher in CSA experience population Kahn et al 2020 [ 19 ] Sexual Abuse LS Understanding of the frequency of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in a sample of high-risk civilly committed sexual offenders and the link between ACE scores and diagnoses of adult pshycopathology 317 adult males who had committed sexual offenses. Mean age 51.38 years; 69.1% Caucasian ACE scale; Static-99R; DSM-5 Diagnoses ACE score-sexual abuse item was present in 56.8% of the examined population.…”

“…A statistically significant correlation was found between total ACE scores and the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). The odds of having ASPD increased by 11% for each ACE item additionally reported [ 19 ]. Likewise being physically abused during childhood predicted the onset of an ASPD [ 29 ].…”

“…The systematic search of literature reveals the central role of traumatic events in the psychosexological functioning and, as several evidence demonstrated, sexual abuse is a dramatic and central factor modulating PDs [ 41 ]. Similarly, ACEs have a pivotal role to determine PDs and deviant behavior in sexual offenders [ 19 ]. The theory of abused-abusers in sexual offenders appears confirmed also in PDs, such as the antisocial behaviors [ 42 ].…”

A Longitudinal Examination of Developmental Covariates of Sexual Behavior Problems among Youth Referred to Child Protection Services

“…The literature in this regard is largely retrospective and based on samples of convicted adult offenders (e.g., Jespersen et al, 2009 ). These findings, despite their limitations, suggest the importance of examining the role of experiences of sexual abuse on SBP in the broader context of adverse childhood experiences ([ACE; Felitti et al, 1998 ], e.g., Barra et al, 2018 ; Drury et al, 2017 ; Grady et al, 2017 ; Kahn et al, 2020 ; Levenson et al, 2016 ). A longitudinal research design is needed to capture the evolution of SBP over time, taking into account age-graded risk and protective factors (e.g., Lussier, 2017 ).…”