Similarities and differences in adolescence-onset versus adulthood-onset sexual abuse incidents
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Brown, Sarah
Smallbone, Stephen
Pritchard, Karlyn
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D.C. Bross, G.B. Melton
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Abstract
A sample of males who had first committed sexual offences against children in either adolescence (n = 230; M = 14.0 years, SD = 1.5) or adulthood (n = 280; M = 34.4 years, SD = 11.7) were compared on measures relating to the circumstances of their first known sexual abuse incident. Considerable diversity in the circumstances of these first incidents was observed for both groups. However, adulthood-onset sexual abuse most often occurred following along-standing familial relationship with a female victim, and in a home setting. The first incident for adolescence-onset offenders also tended to occur in the context of a long-term relationship and against a female child in a home setting, but more commonly against a nonfamilial victim. Adulthood-onset offenders abused older children, were more likely to engage in penetrative sexual behaviors, and went on to abuse over a longer duration than adolescence-onset offenders. Adolescence-onset offences were more likely to be witnessed by a third party. Findings and their implications for prevention are considered from a situational crime prevention perspective.
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Child Abuse and Neglect
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46
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Subject
Criminology
Causes and prevention of crime
Social work
Adolescence-onset
Adulthood-onset
Sexual offenders
Child sexual abuse
Situational theories