Comparing the developmental and behavioural characteristics of female and male juveniles who present with sexually abusive behaviour

Abstract

Relatively few studies have compared female and male juveniles who sexually abuse. These studies have reported that while female juveniles with sexually abusive behaviour are more likely to have experienced childhood sexual abuse, they display similar patterns of abusive behaviour. However, to date these findings have not been replicated in a UK sample. The current study compared 22 female and 254 male juveniles, referred to a UK specialist community forensic service, in relation to family environment, maltreatment experience, psychiatric diagnoses and perpetrated abusive behaviour. Consistent with previous studies perpetrated behaviour was similar across genders, but females were significantly more likely to have been sexually victimized as children, at a younger age and by a greater number of abusers. In addition, they were more likely to have been exposed to inadequate sexual boundaries at home. These findings suggest that females and males may follow different pathways to sexually abusive behaviour.

X-rated material and perpetration of sexually aggressive behavior among children and adolescents: is there a link?

“…Sexual victimization is a noted proximal risk factor for sexual aggression among boys [Casey and Lindhorst, 2009;Hickey et al, 2008;Seto and Lalumie`re, 2010]. In this study, victims of sexual harassment/solicitation online and via text messaging were identified using the three items referenced in the above section [Finkelhor et al, 2000;Wolak et al, 2006], reworded to refer to victimization (e.g., have you ever been asked to talk about sex online when you did not want to) online as well as via text messaging.…”

“…Proximal are those that are directly related to sexual aggression [Malamuth, 2003;Williams et al, 2009]. Pornography is considered to be a proximal factor, as is sexual victimization-particularly for boys [Casey and Lindhorst, 2009;Hickey et al, 2008;Seto and Lalumie`re, 2010]. Distal factors are those that may predispose a young person to behave in an antisocial or aggressive manner more generally, and therefore contribute to sexual aggression indirectly.…”

Group Sexual Offending by Juvenile Females

“…Reported sexual victimization varies: from 26% (Roe-Sepowitz & Krysik, 2008), to 50% (Fehrenbach & Monastersky, Group sexual offending by juvenile females 5 1988) to 100% (Bumby & Bumby, 1997;Hunter et al,1993). Physical abuse and neglect as reported in these studies ranges from 12% (Roe-Sepowitz & Krysik, 2008) to 91% (Hickey et al, 2008). Hickey et al (2008) reported that 77% of the juvenile females in their sample had experienced inadequate sexual boundaries within their family, and that 49% had undergone treatment for mental health problems.…”

“…Physical abuse and neglect as reported in these studies ranges from 12% (Roe-Sepowitz & Krysik, 2008) to 91% (Hickey et al, 2008). Hickey et al (2008) reported that 77% of the juvenile females in their sample had experienced inadequate sexual boundaries within their family, and that 49% had undergone treatment for mental health problems. Roe-Sepowitz et al (2008) reported in their extensive study that almost 30% of the females faced problems with the use of alcohol and/or drugs, 49% experienced problems at school and 53% reported delinquency before their sexual offense.…”

“…Frey (2010) conducted a literature review on juvenile female sexual offenders. She found that their families are characterized by moderate to severe dysfunctioning (Mathews, Hunter, & Vuz, 1997;Tardif et al, 2005) with many (>25%) shifts of caregivers (Roe-Sepowitz & Krysik, 2008) and inconsistent parenting (82%) (Hickey, McCrory, Farmer, & Vizard, 2008). Reported sexual victimization varies: from 26% (Roe-Sepowitz & Krysik, 2008), to 50% (Fehrenbach & Monastersky, Group sexual offending by juvenile females 5 1988) to 100% (Bumby & Bumby, 1997;Hunter et al,1993).…”