How Childhood Sexual Abuse Relates to Sexual Related Misdemeanors

• In Event: Poster Session 05
  In Poster Session: PS 05 Topic - Health, Growth, Injury

Abstract

Approximately 20% of females and five percent of males have experienced childhood sexual abuse in the United States (Scheidell et al., 2017). The long-term effects of CSA are being studied as these victims age, with multiple studies showing how CSA translates to juvenile behavioral problems, including crime. For example, Asscher et al., (2015) found that 33% of female and 8% of male adolescent juvenile offenders had a history of CSA. This also extends into adult crime, as Bodkin et al. (2019) reported that 50% of Canadian women and 22% of Canadian men in prison have experienced CSA. CSA may be specifically related to sexual crimes. For example, high CSA victimization has been associated with risky sexual behavior including exposing one’s self to strangers, engaging in numerous partners at the risk of STIs, and public masturbation (Thibodeau et al.,2017). In addition, CSA poly-victimization has shown to be highly correlated with intimate partner violence (Jennings et al., 2018). Moreover, obscenity, including sexting may also be connected to CSA (Walsh, 2019). This research aims to analyze how childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is related to sexual related misdemeanors including obscenity, domestic violence, and indecent exposure. We hypothesize that individuals who report CSA; will be more likely to have engaged in sexually related misdemeanor behaviors.
Method: Participants (N=445, 77% female) were late adolescents and young adults (M=20.15 years, SD= 4.91) who answered questions about CSA and misdemeanor crimes. Approximately 65% of participants identified as White, 15% as Black, 8% as biracial or multiracial, 5% Middle Eastern, and 7% as another category. CSA was asked as part of the Adverse Experiences in Childhood scale with response options of yes or no. A dichotomous score of engagement in misdemeanor behavior related to sexuality was created for those who had ever engaged in obscenity, indecency, or misdemeanor domestic violence.
Results: This study found that 8% of participants reported engaging in at least one sexual misdemeanor, whereas 9% reported a history of CSA. A 2 x 2 chi-square analysis, χ2 (1) = 12.803, p < .001, found that more individuals reported CSA and a sexual misdemeanor (23%) than those without a history of CSA (7%). This supports the hypothesis that individuals who report CSA are more likely to have engaged in sexual-related misdemeanors. Follow-up analyses indicated that there were no differences by gender (men, women).
Discussion: Analyses found that in comparison to those with a history of CSA, those who experienced CSA were more likely to engage in sexual-related misdemeanors, regardless of their gender identity. Our research suggests that more research should be done regarding protective factors and outreach programs for those affected by CSA, so that these individuals will become less likely to engage in sexually-related misdemeanors. Future research could include a longitudinal study following those affected by CSA with early interventions to determine the effectiveness of protective factors and outreach programs in reducing sexual crimes.

Group Authors

Clare Lynn, Gwendolyn Wheatley, Jessica Harazango, Halle Letizio, and Elizabeth Goncy

Authors

• Clare Lynn, Cleveland State University
  Presenting Author

• Gwendolyn Wheatley, Cleveland State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elizabeth A Goncy, Cleveland State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jessica Harazango, Cleveland State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Halle Letizio
  Non-Presenting Author