Adverse childhood experiences and psychosocial functioning problems for youths who sexually harm siblings

Figures & data

Table 1. ACE prevalence for males who sexually harmsiblings and non-siblings.

	Sibling sexual harm (SSH) n = 63	Non-sibling sexual harm (NSSH) n = 155	χ^2	p	ϕc
	n (%)	n (%)
Maltreatment			F = 3.880	.050	${\eta }_p^2$ =.019
Emotional abuse	32 (50.79)	62 (40.00)
Physical abuse	36 (57.14)	70 (45.16)
Sexual abuse	23 (36.51)	38 (24.52)
Neglect	33 (52.38)	68 (43.87)
Family functioning			F = 4.031	.046	${\eta }_p^2$ = .019
Single parent	39 (61.90)	85 (54.84)	0.912	.340	.065
Exposure to DFV	36 (57.14)	79 (50.97)	0.685	.408	.056
CG substance use	33 (52.38)	76 (49.03)	0.201	.654	.030
CG Mental health	25 (39.68)	40 (25.81)	4.122	.042	.137
CG Incarceration	15 (23.81)	41 (26.45)	0.164	.686	.027
CG Inconsistency	26 (41.27)	41 (26.45)	4.620	.032	.146
CG victim of SA^1	15 (25.86)	20 (12.99)	5.067	.024	.155
Social exclusion			F = 12.286	.002	${\eta }_p^2$ = .048
Social isolation^2	38 (62.30)	58 (37.91)	10.485	.001	.221
Bullying victimisation^3	37 (60.66)	64 (42.67)	5.624	.018	.163
Poor social interaction^4	28 (45.90)	59 (38.31)	1.045	.307	.070

SSH n = 63, NSSH n = 155 except: ¹SSH n = 58, NSSH n = 154; ²SSH n = 61, NSSH n = 153; ³SSH n = 61, NSSH n = 150; ⁴SSH n = 61, NSSH n = 154.

χ²=  Pearson’s Chi-squared test; ϕ_c= Cramer’s V effect size for chi-square test; ${\eta }_p^2$ = partial eta squared effect size for F test.

Figure 1. Prevalence of ACE scores for male youth who sexually harm siblings and non-siblings.

Table 2. ACE scores for male youth who sexually harm siblings and non-siblings.

	Sibling sexual harm (SSH)	Non-sibling sexual harm (NSSH)	t (df)	p (2 sided)	d
Mean ACE score (SD)	6.75 (3.58)	5.21 (3.45)	2.845 (203)	.005	.444

SSH n = 57; NSSH n = 148; d = Cohen’s d measure of effect size.

Table 3. Psychological functioning for male youth who sexually harm siblings and non-siblings.

	Sibling sexual harm (SSH)	Non-sibling sexual harm (NSSH)	χ^2	p	ϕc
	n (%)	n (%)
Internalising problems^1	45 (75.00)	76 (51.70)	9.524	.002	.215
Externalising problems^2	38 (65.52)	100 (66.67)	0.025	.875	.011
Early problem sexual behaviours^3	23 (37.10)	28 (18.30)	8.615	.003	.200
Substance use^2	31 (53.45)	106 (70.67)	5.516	.019	.163

¹ SSH n = 60; NSSH n = 147, ²SSH n = 58; NSSH n = 150, ³SSH n = 62; NSSH n = 153.

Table

ACE	Original checklist item	Item in GYFS data
ACE 1	Emotional abuse Did a parent or other adult in the household often swear at you, insult you, put you down or humiliate you OR act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt	Victim of emotional maltreatment Psychological denigration and failure to provide a child with adequate emotional availability and nurturance by a person who is in a position of trust and caretaking at the time that is likely to have a negative impact on the child’s self-esteem or social competence
ACE 2	Physical abuse Did a parent or other adult in the household often push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? OR ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?	Victim of physical abuse The non-accidental use of physical force against a child by a person who is in a position of trust and caretaking at the time (e.g. parent, older sibling, other relative, caregiver) and that results in harm to the child
ACE 3	Sexual abuse Did a person or adult at least 5 years older than you ever touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? OR try to or actually have oral, anal or vaginal sex with you?	Victim of sexual abuse Victim of hands-on sexual assault (sexual touching, sexual assault with or without violence)
ACE 4	Emotional neglect Did you often feel that no-one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? OR your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?	Victim of neglect Failure by parent or caregiver to provide a child (where they are in a position to do so) with the conditions that are culturally accepted as being essential for their physical and emotional development and wellbeing. As indicated in at least one of the following types of neglect: physical – failure to provide basic physical necessities such as safe, clean, and adequate clothing, housing, food and healthcare; emotional – lack of caregiver warmth, nurturance, encouragement, and support; educational – failure to provide appropriate educational opportunities for the child; environmental – failure to ensure environmental safety, opportunities and resources. Lack of involvement in child’s day to-day activities
ACE 5	Physical neglect Did you often feel that you didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you OR your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
ACE 6	Parental separation or divorce Were your parents ever separated or divorced?	Single-parent living environment Living in a single parent environment
ACE 7	Exposure to domestic violence Was your mother or stepmother often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? OR sometimes or often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? OR ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?	Witnessing family violence Witnessing of verbal, physical or sexual violence toward another family member with whom the child has a significant relationship (including extended family and guardians). This may include direct (visual) and indirect (auditory) exposure to physical assaults on family members OR Caregiver a victim of domestic violence Caregiver has been a victim of domestic violence during the young person’s developmental years
ACE 8	Family member substance abuse Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic or who used street drugs?	Caregiver substance abuse A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. This might include being unable to fulfil major role obligations at work, school or home; absence from work; driving car while intoxicated; disorderly conduct; interpersonal problems exacerbated by effects of the substance
ACE 9	Family member mental health Was a household member depressed or mentally ill or did a household member attempt suicide?	Caregiver mental health issues Caregiver has a formal history of mental illness
ACE 10	Family incarceration Did a household member go to prison?	Family incarceration Maternal, paternal or sibling involvement in crime; criminal records; periods of incarceration; parent or stepparent or older siblings have a positive attitude towards anti-social (& criminal) behaviour; maternal, paternal or older sibling have a history of sexual offending behaviour