A Preliminary Examination of Racial Differences in Trauma and Sexual Aggression Among Adolescent Sexual Abusers

Abstract

The differences in victimization and sexual abuse perpetrated by two groups of youths-African American (n = 110) and Caucasian (n = 57)-were compared in a sample of adolescent males residing in residential institutions. The youths were broken into subgroups by adjudication status and race for the analyses.

After assessing for differences between the groups on social desirability and time in treatment, a number of small racial differences emerged on the youths' trauma or sexually abusive behavior. In the non-adjudicated subgroup Caucasian youths had higher physical neglect and emotional abuse scores. When analyzing the characteristics of the youths' sexual victimization, the non-adjudicated subgroup of Caucasian youths was more likely to experience incest than the African American youths. Finally, in examining differences between the youths on the characteristics of sexually abusive behaviors, Caucasian youths in the adjudicated subgroup were more likely to commit penetrative acts, with none of the Caucasian youths admitting to anything less serious than the penetration of their victims.

Possible explanations for these differences are offered, including methodological explanations, the values around family present within the African American culture. Treatment and research implications of these findings are discussed.

Key Words:

• Sexual abuse
• intersectionality
• race
• oppression