1
|
Bailey C, Shaw J, Harris A. Adolescents and sexual assault: A critical integrative review. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 73:337-359. [PMID: 38303610 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Adolescents are sexually assaulted at remarkably high rates. Adolescents are also unique given the specific dynamics of adolescent sexual assault, their current stage in human development, their limited legal standing and rights, and their experiences navigating postassault services and resources. While literature exists within each of these domains, it is somewhat disconnected and overlooks how adolescents are often relegated to the margins in research and practice. The purpose of this integrative review is to (1) provide a more complete understanding of adolescent sexual assault and survivors' nuanced needs; (2) frame adolescent survivors as a too-often-overlooked oppressed group that researchers and responders must consider and center in their work, lest contribute to their further marginalization; and (3) inspire and orient social justice-minded scholar activists to various action steps to take to center and prioritize adolescents in research and practice. Through our intersectional feminist approach, we offer specific action steps for social justice-minded scholar activists to recenter adolescents in their research and practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Bailey
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jessica Shaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Abril Harris
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bailey C, Shaw J, Harris A. Mandatory Reporting and Adolescent Sexual Assault. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2023; 24:454-467. [PMID: 34238071 DOI: 10.1177/15248380211030239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents experience alarmingly high rates of sexual violence, higher than any other age-group. This is concerning as sexual violence can have detrimental effects on teens' personal and relational well-being, causing long-term consequences for the survivor. Still, adolescents are hesitant to report the assault or seek out services and resources. When an adolescent survivor does seek out services, they may interact with a provider who is a mandatory reporter. This scoping review sought to synthesize the current U.S.-based research on the role, challenges, and impact of mandatory reporting (MR) in the context of adolescent sexual assault. Database searches using key words related to MR, sexual assault, and adolescence identified 29 peer-reviewed articles. However, none of these articles reported on empirical investigations of the phenomenon of interest and instead consisted of case studies, commentaries, and position papers. The scoping review was expanded to provide a lay of the land of what we know about the intersection of adolescent sexual assault and MR. Results of the review indicate that though implemented broadly, MR policies vary between individuals, organizations, and states and have historically been challenging to implement due to this variation, conflicts with other laws, tension between these policies and providers' values, and other factors. Based on the available literature, the impact of MR in the context of adolescent sexual assault is unknown. There is a critical need for research and evaluation on the implementation and impact of MR policies, especially in the context of adolescents and sexual violence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Bailey
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jessica Shaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Abril Harris
- School of Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cross TP, Schmitt T. Forensic medical results and law enforcement actions following sexual assault: A comparison of child, adolescent and adult cases. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2019; 93:103-110. [PMID: 31075572 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sexual assault cases, little research has examined differences in forensic medical findings and law enforcement response by victim age across the entire age range. OBJECTIVE This study addressed this gap by comparing four victim age groups: adults, adolescents over the age of consent, adolescents under the age of consent, and children under 12. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Cases were randomly sampled from a statewide database of medical reports on sexual assault examinations conducted in hospital emergency departments, including only cases reported to law enforcement (N = 563). METHODS Data were combined from a medical report database, from coding of medical documentation and crime laboratory reports, and from case data provided by law enforcement. RESULTS Rates for both younger and older adolescent victims and adult victims were comparable, with no statistically significant differences on most variables: penetration, perpetrator use of force, non-genital and genital injuries, presence of biological evidence, generating assailant DNA profiles, DNA match to suspect, hits in the FBI's DNA database, and law enforcement unfounding (i.e., determining allegations to be false or baseless). Child victims were significantly less likely to have a non-genital injury, and their cases were significantly more likely to be founded by law enforcement. Arrests were significantly more likely when victims were under the age of consent. CONCLUSIONS Despite significant differences by victim age, similarity between adolescent and adult cases was substantial. Both younger and older adolescents may be at higher risk of physical violence during sexual assault than previously recognized, and need greater attention in response systems.
Collapse
|
4
|
A Multispecialty Perspective on Physician Responsibility to Sexual Assault Survivors. Obstet Gynecol 2019; 134:58-62. [DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000003314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
5
|
Crawford-Jakubiak JE, Alderman EM, Leventhal JM, Flaherty EG, Idzerda S, Legano L, Leventhal JM, Lukefahr JL, Sege RD, Braverman PK, Adelman WP, Alderman EM, Breuner CC, Levine DA, Marcell AV, O’Brien RF. Care of the Adolescent After an Acute Sexual Assault. Pediatrics 2017; 139:peds.2016-4243. [PMID: 28242861 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-4243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual violence is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of sexual victimizations. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics published its last policy statement on sexual assault in 2008, additional information and data have emerged about sexual violence affecting adolescents and the treatment and management of the adolescent who has been a victim of sexual assault. This report provides new information to update physicians and focuses on the acute assessment and care of adolescent victims who have experienced a recent sexual assault. Follow-up of the acute assault, as well as prevention of sexual assault, are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James E. Crawford-Jakubiak
- Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, and Center for Child Protection, University of San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, California
| | - Elizabeth M. Alderman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Director, Pediatrics Residency Program, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; and
| | - John M. Leventhal
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Trotman GE, Young-Anderson C, Deye KP. Acute Sexual Assault in the Pediatric and Adolescent Population. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2016; 29:518-526. [PMID: 26702774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 04/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Children and adolescents are at high risk for sexual assault. Early medical and mental health evaluation by professionals with advanced training in sexual victimization is imperative to assure appropriate assessment, forensic evidence collection, and follow-up. Moreover, continued research and outreach programs are needed for the development of preventative strategies that focus on this vulnerable population. In this review we highlight key concepts for assessment and include a discussion of risk factors, disclosure, sequelae, follow-up, and prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gylynthia E Trotman
- Department of Women's and Infants' Services, Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Medstar Washington Hospital Center/Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia.
| | - Christian Young-Anderson
- Freddie Mac Foundation Child and Adolescent Protection Center, Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Katherine P Deye
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia; Freddie Mac Foundation Child and Adolescent Protection Center, Children's National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Young AM, McCabe SE, Boyd CJ. Adolescents' Sexual Inferences about Girls Who Consume Alcohol. PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN QUARTERLY 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-6402.2007.00366.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to document whether adolescents make inferences regarding male and female vignette characters in terms of the characters' sexuality, social skills, impairment, and aggressiveness when the characters consume alcohol. A Web-based survey of 1,691 middle and high school students (grades 6–11) from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds was conducted. The Dating Vignette and Subjective Perception Form ( George, Gournic, & McAfee, 1988 ) were modified for use with an adolescent sample and embedded within the Web-based survey. There were significant interaction effects between the male and female characters' alcohol consumption in terms of the respondents' perception of the female character for all of the subscales examined (i.e., sexual disinhibition, social skills, impairment, and aggressiveness). In contrast, there were no significant interactions between the characters' drinking and the respondents' perception of the male character. Collectively, these findings suggest that adolescents' perceptions of girls are based not only on the girls' own drinking behaviors, but also their male partners' drinking behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy M. Young
- Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan
| | | | - Carol J. Boyd
- Nursing and Women's Studies, The University of Michigan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
|
9
|
Slater C, Woodhams J, Hamilton-Giachritsis C. Can serial rapists be distinguished from one-off rapists? BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2014; 32:220-239. [PMID: 24723507 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
There are investigative advantages to being able to determine early in a police investigation whether a rape has been committed by a serial or a one-off rapist. Previous research has found some differences in the crime-scene behaviors of serial and one-off rapists; however, this research suffers from the limitation of utilizing a sample of rapes within which there was a mixture of victim-offender relationships. To address this limitation, this study sampled 38 serial (two or more convictions) and 50 one-off (one conviction) stranger rapists and compared their crime scene behavior across four domains (control, sex, escape and style behaviors). Serial and one-off rapists differed in some control and sexual behaviors, in particular, in the type of victim targeted, the offense locations, methods of control and the sexual acts forced upon the victim. However, the results did not indicate a striking difference in the offending behavior of the two groups. The implications of these findings for criminal investigations are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Slater
- Chelsea Slater, School of Psychology, Frankland Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Woodhams J, Cooke C. Suspect aggression and victim resistance in multiple perpetrator rapes. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2013; 42:1509-1516. [PMID: 23740469 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-013-0136-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2011] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Several research studies have reported an elevated level of aggression in rapes committed by multiple perpetrators compared to rapes committed by lone suspects. Several factors that have been linked to elevated aggression in generic samples of rape were examined for the first time with a sample of multiple perpetrator rapes. Factors that might be associated with victim resistance were also investigated. Victim and offender characteristics, as well as the behaviors displayed by victims and offenders, were extracted from the police files of 89 multiple perpetrator stranger rapes perpetrated against female victims in the United Kingdom. These behaviors were rated for their level of suspect (non-sexual) aggression and victim resistance, respectively. Degree of victim resistance was significantly and positively associated with suspect aggression. Older victims were the recipients of significantly higher levels of suspect aggression. Victims who were incapacitated from drugs and/or alcohol were less likely to be the recipients of suspect aggression. Group leaders displayed more aggression towards the victim than the followers in the groups. The number of perpetrators was significantly related to the degree of resistance displayed by the victim with offences perpetrated by fewer suspects being characterized by more victim resistance. Research regarding cognitive appraisal during criminal interactions and the respective roles of offenders is referred to in considering these relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Woodhams
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Frankland Building, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK,
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Woodhams J, Labuschagne G. South African serial rapists: the offenders, their victims, and their offenses. SEXUAL ABUSE : A JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2012; 24:544-574. [PMID: 22434346 DOI: 10.1177/1079063212438921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Serial rapists have the propensity to cause harm to a significant number of victims, meaning that they are of concern to the police as well as to treatment providers. Despite the serious nature of their offending, there are surprisingly few studies that provide information regarding their characteristics, the types of victim they target, or the nature of the sexual offenses they commit, and those studies that do exist are varied in their findings. This study provides a descriptive analysis of serial rape in South Africa. One hundred and nineteen sexual offenses committed by 22 serial rapists were sampled. Information regarding the victims, the offenders, and the crimes they had committed were extracted from police files. The characteristics of victims and offenders are reported as well as the frequencies for 114 different crime scene behaviors. When compared with samples of serial sex offenders from other countries, differences emerged in victim characteristics and crime scene behaviors, including how the victims were targeted, the sexual behaviors engaged in, and the incidence of physical violence. The implications of these observed differences for practice are discussed.
Collapse
|
12
|
Zeren C, Arslan MM, Karanfil R, Akcan R. A case of a serial sexual offender: The first ever report from Turkey. J Forensic Leg Med 2012; 19:428-30. [PMID: 22920769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2012.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2011] [Revised: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 04/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
There have been cases of serial sexual offenders and studies dealing with such cases in the literature. However, no serial sexual offender case was reported in Turkey, to the best of our knowledge. In this article, as the first report from Turkey, we present a serial sexual offender who assaulted 27 women. The assailant entered a total of 29 houses, and assaulted victims in 27 of them, and he failed to assault two individuals. The 'modus operandi' of the offender was identical in all assault cases and led the police towards a hypothesis that these assaults were all committed by the same individual. The offender did not admit the assaults and strictly refused a forensic psychiatric examination. Being an individual with a high level of education, having a respected position and profession, choosing women aged older than 18 years as victims were among distinctive features of the presented offender.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Zeren
- Mustafa Kemal University, Medical Faculty, Department of Forensic Medicine, 31100 Hatay, Turkey.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Choudhary E, Gunzler D, Tu X, Bossarte RM. Epidemiological characteristics of male sexual assault in a criminological database. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2012; 27:523-546. [PMID: 21987510 DOI: 10.1177/0886260511421674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Sexual assault among males, compared with females, is understudied, and may also be significantly underreported. Past studies have relied primarily on population-based survey data to estimate the prevalence of sexual assault and associated health outcomes. However, survey-based studies rely primarily on self-reports of victimization and may not accurately estimate the true prevalence of male sexual assault victimization. In order to obtain a detailed assessment of sexual assault among males, criminological databases like the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) may provide an important and unique source of information. The objective of the current study was to use data from the 2001-2005 NIBRS to construct an epidemiological profile of sexual assault among males. Our results suggest that the incidence of sexual assault was higher among young males (less than 19 years of age), with approximately 90% of all cases being reported among members of this age group. Among males of all ages, forcible fondling and sodomy were the most prevalent forms of sexual assault. Results from additional analyses include age- and race-specific rates of male sexual assault, the prevalence and severity of injury, and time trends detailing incidence by time of the day and location of the incident. Our analyses show that sexual assault is experienced by males of all age groups. However, the rate of sexual assault is higher among younger males. Despite some limitations, results from this study suggest that NIBRS data may provide a important complement to survey data for understanding breadth and consequences of male sexual assault.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Choudhary
- Injury Control Research Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Freeman DH, Temple JR. Social Factors Associated with History of Sexual Assault Among Ethnically Diverse Adolescents. JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE 2010; 25:349-356. [PMID: 20179750 PMCID: PMC2812919 DOI: 10.1007/s10896-009-9296-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We examine the association of adolescents' self-reported sexual assault victimization with their living arrangements, parent's education, and plans for college. Participants included 1,634 ethnically-diverse and economically-disadvantaged high school students in southeast Texas. Lifetime history of forced sexual assault was reported by 8.3% of girls and 9% of boys. No association with gender, age, or parent's education was detected. However, adolescents in non-traditional households (living with one parent, grandparents, or other) were more likely to report rape than youth living with both parents. Adolescents who were one race/ethnicity were less likely to report being raped than those in the multiple race category. Sexual assault intervention programs should account for a teenager's living situation; and prevention efforts may benefit from targeting individuals in non-traditional households. The lack of an association with either gender or socio-educational status indicates that all children are at risk and that school-based programs should be broadly targeted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H. Freeman
- Edgar Gnitzinger Distinguished Professorship in Aging, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1148, USA,
| | - Jeff R. Temple
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
All human beings are sexual from birth to death and all children and adolescents with or without disability or chronic illness must incorporate appropriate sexuality concepts into their processes of development from childhood to adolescence. This article considers sexuality issues and reproductive care of adolescents with developmental disabilities. Potential consequences of disability on sexuality are reviewed, including sexual abuse and sexual dysfunction. Comprehensive sexuality education is vital for normal growth and development of all youth including those with developmental disabilities.
Collapse
|
16
|
Baker RB, Sommers MS. Relationship of genital injuries and age in adolescent and young adult rape survivors. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2008; 37:282-9. [PMID: 18507599 DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00239.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between age and genital injuries in adolescent and young adult women examined following rape. DESIGN & SETTING A retrospective review of 234 medical records from an emergency department sexual assault program. SAMPLE Women aged 14 to 29 years. Fifty percent of the sample was African American, 48% was White, and 2% was either Asian or an "other" race. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Genital injury was described by injury prevalence, frequency, and anatomical locations of injuries. RESULTS Overall genital injury prevalence was 62.8%. Younger age was not significantly associated with the presence or absence of genital injury. However, younger age was significantly associated with an increased number of genital injuries overall and to the thighs, labia minora, periurethral area, fossa navicularis, and vagina. CONCLUSION These findings support the need for further research to determine if the current care provided to rape survivors is age appropriate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel B Baker
- Department of Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH 45229, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Sexual assault is a broad-based term that encompasses a wide range of sexual victimizations including rape. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics published its last policy statement on sexual assault in 2001, additional information and data have emerged about sexual assault and rape in adolescents and the treatment and management of the adolescent who has been a victim of sexual assault. This report provides new information to update physicians and focuses on assessment and care of sexual assault victims in the adolescent population.
Collapse
|
18
|
YOUNG AMY, GREY MELISSA, ABBEY ANTONIA, BOYD CAROLJ, McCABE SEANESTEBAN. Alcohol-related sexual assault victimization among adolescents: prevalence, characteristics, and correlates. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2008; 69:39-48. [PMID: 18080063 PMCID: PMC2713994 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2008.69.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and describe the characteristics of alcohol-related sexual assault among middle and high school students. METHOD A Web-based, self-administered survey was used to collect data on 7th- through 12th-grade students (n = 1,037) in a large metropolitan area in the Midwest. A modified version of the Sexual Experiences Survey was used to ask students about their sexual victimization experiences so as to examine the involvement of alcohol within specific assault events. The sample was equally distributed by biological gender and ethnicity (white vs black) and was, on average (SD), 14 (2) years of age. RESULTS Findings from the study indicate that alcohol was involved in approximately 12%-20% of the assault cases, depending on age and gender of the respondent. For females, the presence of alcohol during assault differed significantly based on the location at which the assault occurred, ranging from 6% (at the survivor's home) to 29% (at parties or someone else's home). Furthermore, alcohol-related assault among females was more likely to involve physical force than non-alcohol-related assault. CONCLUSIONS Results are discussed in light of the risk factors of alcohol-related assault among adolescents as well as the nature of social contexts that fosters alcohol-related sexual assault among both adolescents and college students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- AMY YOUNG
- Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1290
| | - MELISSA GREY
- Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1290
| | - ANTONIA ABBEY
- Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1290
| | - CAROL J. BOYD
- Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1290
| | - SEAN ESTEBAN McCABE
- Institute for Research on Women and Gender, University of Michigan, 204 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1290
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Woodhams J, Gillett R, Grant T. Understanding the factors that affect the severity of juvenile stranger sex offenses: the effect of victim characteristics and number of suspects. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2007; 22:218-37. [PMID: 17202577 DOI: 10.1177/0886260506295349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding factors that affect the severity of a juvenile-stranger sexual assault has implications for crime prevention, and potentially, the assessment and treatment of juvenile sex offenders. This study investigated how victim characteristics and the number of suspects affected the use of physical violence and weapons and the occurrence of penetration in 495 allegations of sexual assault committed by juveniles against strangers. Statistically significant interactions between victim age and gender were found for occurrence of penetration and use of violence. Differences in offense characteristics were also found between offenses with varying victim-suspect age differences. When comparing the rate of penetration in the presence and absence of violence, little change was observed for lone suspects. However, the rate of penetration increased significantly for groups in the presence of physical violence, suggesting that violence in this context may be more expressive than instrumental. Theoretical explanations and practical implications are considered.
Collapse
|
20
|
Kaukinen C, Demaris A. Age at first sexual assault and current substance use and depression. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2005; 20:1244-70. [PMID: 16162488 DOI: 10.1177/0886260505277732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This article explores how the association between sexual violence and substance use and mental health differs by race and life course stage. Analyses are based on data (n = 8,000) from the Violence and Threats of Violence against Women and Men in the United States Survey, 1994-1996 (NVAWS). Although sexual violence does not heighten the risk of problem drinking for White women, minority women victimized in adulthood are significantly more likely to engage in problem drinking and use illicit drugs. This suggests that for minority women the effects of recent victimization experiences result in immediate and potentially long-lasting consequences. The findings with respect to the association between sexual violence and depression are consistent with the child and adolescent development literature. It is Hispanic women who are more likely to suffer depression as a consequence of child sexual assault.
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Although nations continue to remain involved in ongoing armed conflicts, the threat of direct exposure to violence for American children and youth is more likely to be from the interpersonal violence that occurs in homes, neighborhoods, and schools. Exposure to interpersonal violence has a very serious impact on most youth. Focusing on violence prevention remains a vital component of providing comprehensive health care for all youth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen D Pratt
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wu ZH, Berenson AB, Wiemann CM. A profile of adolescent females with a history of sexual assault in texas: familial environment, risk behaviors, and health status. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2003; 16:207-16. [PMID: 14550384 DOI: 10.1016/s1083-3188(03)00123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence and correlates of sexual assault among adolescent females. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING A university family planning clinic in south Texas. PARTICIPANTS Female adolescents <18 years who initiated care at a university family planning clinic in south Texas between June 28, 1992, and April 28, 1994. The adolescents' lifetime sexual assault experience. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Of the 791 adolescents interviewed, 167 (21%) reported a history of sexual assault. Sexual assault was found to be highly associated with multiple risky behaviors and depressive symptoms. Among assaulted adolescents, nonsexual risk behaviors (e.g., substance use) were more common among those who also experienced physical assault than among those who did not. Sexual risk behaviors (e.g., earlier age at sexual debut) and related gynecological infections (e.g., STDs) were more prevalent among women reporting forced sexual intercourse than in those who reported molestation only. Furthermore, adolescents assaulted by a stranger had participated in the most risky behaviors and reported the worst health status, while those assaulted by a date/acquaintance reported higher rates of inconsistent condom use and gynecological infections but lower rates of substance use and depressive symptoms than those assaulted by a family member. CONCLUSION A deeper understanding of the links between the characteristics of assault, risk behaviors, and health conditions may provide opportunities to design more individualized interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Z Helen Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0587, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Navratil F. [Sexual abuse in adolescence: patient assessment, necessity and meaning of the physical examination]. GYNAKOLOGISCH-GEBURTSHILFLICHE RUNDSCHAU 2003; 43:146-51. [PMID: 12806193 DOI: 10.1159/000070793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to report on the characteristics of sexual abuse in adolescence, on the medical evaluation and interpretation of findings and on the necessity of a multidisciplinary intervention. Sexual abuse is a common problem affecting children and adolescents, males and females of any age or socio-economic class. 10-22% of adolescents are victims of sexual abuse. They engage more frequently in risk-taking behaviours, such as early sexual activity, unprotected sexual contact with multiple partners (risk of sexually transmitted diseases, of an unwanted pregnancy), substance abuse, delinquency, school failure or suicide. Professionals who deal with adolescents should be aware of the devastating medical and psychosocial sequelae of sexual abuse and should be able to recognize it, incorporating questions regarding victimization into the psycho-social or sexual history. A medical examination, including an external anogenital inspection and in selected cases a pelvic examination, should always be performed. It is important to acknowledge that normal anogenital findings do not exclude sexual abuse and that a multidisciplinary medical-psychosocial evaluation is mandatory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Navratil
- Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendgynäkologie, Kinderschutzgruppe und Opferberatungsstelle, Universitätskinderklinik, Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Bechtel K, Carroll M. Medical and forensic evaluation of the adolescent after sexual assault. CLINICAL PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s1522-8401(03)80005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
25
|
Logan TK, Walker R, Cole J, Leukefeld C. Victimization and Substance Abuse among Women: Contributing Factors, Interventions, and Implications. REVIEW OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2002. [DOI: 10.1037/1089-2680.6.4.325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although the literature indicates that there is an association of victimization with substance abuse, there has been limited research focused on understanding and synthesizing the factors that have been identified as contributing to victimization and substance abuse and on interventions designed to address these contributing factors. The purposes of this article are to (a) review the literature on factors related to victimization and substance abuse, (b) review interventions and outcomes, and (c) discuss clinical implications for interventions and research. Results suggest that there is a high rate of co-occurrence of victimization and substance abuse among women, that the factors contributing to victimization and substance abuse are complex, and that there is a lack of treatment models addressing victimization and substance abuse.
Collapse
|
26
|
Logan TK, Cole J, Leukefeld C. Women, sex, and HIV: social and contextual factors, meta-analysis of published interventions, and implications for practice and research. Psychol Bull 2002; 128:851-885. [PMID: 12405135 DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.128.6.851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This article is focused on examining social and contextual factors related to HIV-risk behavior for women. Specifically, this article has three main purposes: to review the literature on selected social and contextual factors that contribute to the risk for the heterosexual transmission of HIV and AIDS, to review and conduct a meta-analysis of HIV-prevention interventions targeting adult heterosexual populations, and to suggest future directions for HIV-prevention intervention research and practice. Results suggest that the HIV-prevention interventions reviewed for this article had little impact on sexual risk behavior, that social and contextual factors are often minimally addressed, and that there was a large gap between research and the practice of HIV-prevention intervention.
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
Healing responses for adolescents who have been sexually assaulted involve nursing care centered on establishing safety, helping adolescents reconstruct the story of the assault, and restoring connection with the community and themselves [42]. Nurses partner with parents, school personnel, and other meaningful people in the lives of adolescents who have been sexually assaulted to create a physically and emotionally safe environment for the adolescent in the days, weeks, and months after an assault. Recovery involves being able to tell the story over and over again in a safe environment until it is clear that the assailant holds the blame for the assault, which was not sex but rather a crime of domination, and that the adolescent did what she or he needed to do to survive. In discerning ways to cope with the trauma of the assault, strengths are identified, appreciated, and nurtured. Nursing advocacy involves educating the adolescent and those around her or him on common reactions to sexual assault and what is needed in the recovery process. Nurses advocate for accommodations so that healing can occur and so that the well-being of the adolescent is not sacrificed for the prosecution of the offender. The major emphasis of nursing care is weaving together an understanding and caring community to surround the adolescent with nurturance and love. It is in the context of meaningful relationships that healing is maximized. Crisis brings with it the opportunity for immense growth. A caring nursing relationship creates the space in which adolescents can discover sources of spiritual and emotional strength that they can draw upon throughout their lives.
Collapse
|
28
|
Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Poirier
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kaplan DW, Feinstein RA, Fisher MM, Klein JD, Olmedo LF, Rome ES, Samuel Yancy W, Adams Hillard PJ, Sacks D, Pearson G, Frankowski BL, Piazza Hurley T. Care of the adolescent sexual assault victim. Pediatrics 2001; 107:1476-9. [PMID: 11389281 DOI: 10.1542/peds.107.6.1476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual assault is a broad-based term that encompasses a wide range of sexual victimizations, including rape. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics published its last policy statement on this topic in 1994, additional information and data have emerged about sexual assault and rape in adolescents, the adolescent's perception of sexual assault, and the treatment and management of the adolescent who has been a victim of sexual assault. This new information mandates an updated knowledge base for pediatricians who care for adolescent patients. This statement provides that update, focusing on sexual assault and rape in the adolescent population.
Collapse
|
30
|
Melton L, Secrest J, Chien A, Andersen B. A community needs assessment for a SANE program using Neuman's model. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS 2001; 13:178-86. [PMID: 11930531 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2001.tb00244.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To present guidelines for a community needs assessment for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program using Neuman's Systems Model. The guidelines provide advanced practice nurses with a holistic, systematic means to conduct an assessment prior to the implementation of a SANE program and facilitate collaborative work with other disciplines and agencies. DATA SOURCES Selected research-based articles on sexual assault, classic texts and writings on Neuman's Systems Model, and community assessment models and programs. CONCLUSIONS Sexual assault is a problem faced by almost every community. A thorough community assessment is an important first step in establishing programs that adequately meet a community's needs. Guidelines for conducting such an assessment related to implementation of a SANE program are rare, and guidelines using a nursing model were not found in the literature. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE One program that has been successful in meeting community needs is the SANE program. A concise and organized assessment guide can reduce the necessary time and money allocated for a community assessment and can provide a basis for evaluation and research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Melton
- University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
Adolescents are frequently victims of sexual assault, often by a previously known assailant. This article discusses the initial management of adolescents who have been sexually assaulted, including obtaining the history and performing a careful physical examination, forensic evidence collection, and medical and psychologic therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Bechtel
- Department of Pediatric Emergency, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Adolescents are the victims, perpetrators, and witnesses of violent acts in the home, at school, and on the streets. Adolescent violence describes a dynamic, destructive, and repercussive process. This article discusses the unique aspects of adolescent violence and the involvement undertaken by the emergency department when adolescent violence results in the need for emergency care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H M Grausz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Muram D, Arheart KL, Jennings SG. Diagnostic accuracy of colposcopic photographs in child sexual abuse evaluations. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 1999; 12:58-61. [PMID: 10326188 DOI: 10.1016/s1083-3188(00)86627-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the utility of colposcopic photographs in child sexual abuse evaluations and to assess whether such photographs can be reliably used for peer review, second opinion, and court testimony. METHODS A prospective review of colposcopic photographs at the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. Participants were 189 girls who were referred for evaluation for possible sexual abuse. Interventions used included gynecologic evaluation, colposcopic photographs, and review of photographs. The main outcome measure was the degree of agreement between the examining physician and the reviewers. RESULTS The reviewers' accuracy for the entire set of 189 cases is uniformly high (93%-95%). Accuracy rates are significantly lower for pubertal girls (83%-90%) and for girls with signs of abuse (58%-88%). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic accuracy of the colposcopic photographs is sufficiently high to warrant continued use of medical photography for documentation and peer review. One should anticipate some disagreements between the examining physician and the reviewers, and contradictory opinions are more likely to occur with girls exhibiting physical signs of abuse and with pubertal girls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Muram
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tromsø, Norway
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zanarini MC, Frankenburg FR, Reich DB, Marino MF, Haynes MC, Gunderson JG. Violence in the lives of adult borderline patients. J Nerv Ment Dis 1999; 187:65-71. [PMID: 10067945 DOI: 10.1097/00005053-199902000-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the experiences of adult violence reported by a sample of criteria-defined borderline patients and axis II controls. The experiences of having had a physically abusive partner and/or having been raped reported by 362 personality-disordered inpatients were assessed blind to diagnostic status using a semistructured research interview. Forty-six percent of borderline patients reported having been a victim of violence since the age of 18. Borderline patients (N = 290) were significantly more likely than axis II controls (N = 72) to report having had a physically abusive partner, having been raped, having been raped multiple times, having been raped by a known perpetrator, and having been both physically assaulted by a partner and raped. Female borderline patients were significantly more likely than male borderline patients to have been physically and/or sexually assaulted as adults (50% vs. 26%). However, a significantly higher percentage of borderline patients of both genders reported experiences of adult violence than controls of the same gender. Four risk factors were found to significantly predict whether borderline patients had an adult history of being a victim of violence: female gender, a substance use disorder that began before the age of 18, childhood sexual abuse, and emotional withdrawal by a caretaker. The results of this study suggest that both male and female borderline patients are at substantial risk for being physically and/or sexually victimized as adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M C Zanarini
- McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Mignot G, Paysant F, Caubet A, Le Gueut M. Increasing rate of sexual assaults by adults appearing before the Assize Court of Rennes, France, during 1987-1997. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL FORENSIC MEDICINE 1998; 5:135-7. [PMID: 15335534 DOI: 10.1016/s1353-1131(98)90032-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we analyse all the sentences handed out by the Assize Court of Rennes in France, in the last decade. A recent increase in the number of sexual offences has been observed. An increase in the number of cases of incest has also been noted. This paper analyses the sex ratio, the age of the victim, the association with other violence and the relationship between the victim and his or her aggressor. The outcomes of the trials are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Mignot
- Institut de Médecine Légale, Rennes cedex, France
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|