Child Sexual Abuse and Risk of Revictimization: Impact of Child Demographics, Sexual Abuse Characteristics, and Psychiatric Disorders
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Child Maltreatment
Abstract
Approximately half of child sexual abuse (CSA) victims report sexual revictimization later in life; however, there is limited rigorous
evidence concerning factors contributing to sexual and nonsexual forms of revictimization. This article investigates the
relationships between CSA and a range of revictimization experiences. It also examines the role of other individual-level
factors (demographics, CSA characteristics, psychiatric disorders) in the risk of revictimization. The study compares data from
a prospective-longitudinal study of 2,759 Australian children (<17 years old) alleged to have experienced contact–CSA between
1964 and 1995, and a comparison group matched on sex and age. In each case, CSA was deemed likely to have occurred according
to expert forensic medical opinion. Abused children and comparisons were followed to age 35 years on average, and their lifetime
official crime victimization histories and public mental health service records were extracted from statewide population-level
administrative databases. Relative to comparisons, CSA victims experienced significantly higher rates of revictimization, with
marked elevations in odds for interpersonal revictimization (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, threats of violence, and stalking).
The CSA–physical assault relationship was moderated by sex, with a stronger association for female victims. Among CSA victims,
victim sex, age at index abuse, and several psychiatric diagnostic categories were independently associated with revictimization
risk, with different patterns of vulnerability emerging depending on the nature of revictimization. Overall, CSA victims are
vulnerable to a range of revictimization experiences later in life. Findings have implications for the identification of particular
groups of sexually abused children at heightened risk for revictimization and the role mental health services may play in mitigating
risk.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, revictimization, psychiatric disorder, mental health
Citation
Papalia, N., Mann, E., & Ogloff, J. R. (2021). Child sexual abuse and risk of revictimization: Impact of child demographics, sexual abuse characteristics, and psychiatric disorders. Child maltreatment, 26(1), 74-86.