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ABSTRACT
This review examined child sexual abuse in the Nordic countries focusing on prevalence rates and victims’ age and relationship to the perpetrator. The results show a prevalence of child sexual abuse (broadly defined) between 3–23% for boys and 11–36% for girls. The prevalence rates for contact abuse were 1–12% for boys and 6–30% for girls, while 0.3–6.8% of the boys and 1.1–13.5% of the girls reported penetrating abuse. The findings suggest an increased risk of abuse from early adolescence. In adolescence, peers may constitute the largest group of perpetrators. The results highlight the need for preventive efforts also targeting peer abuse. Future research should include cross-national and repeated studies using comparable methodology.
Notes
1. Some studies required an age difference of at least 5 years between victim and perpetrator, some asked about experiences with an adult or a person much older, and one asked about unwanted sexual activities with adults or older youngsters.
2. Ellonen (2010), personal contact via E-mail.
3. This study also investigated the prevalence of sexual abuse among 210 school non-attenders. Because this was a special group, not representative for the general population, this part of the study was not included in our investigation.
4. The study was not published in a peer-reviewed journal.
5. The results from 142 patients (clinical population) were not included in our review.
6. “Forceful sex.”
7. The study was based on personal interview with the respondents.
8. Rape.
9. Survey question: “Have you experienced sexual abuse?” This was regarded as contact abuse in the current analysis.
10. Abuse by a perpetrator below 16 years of age was not included.
11. The survey also investigated the prevalence of all sexual contact with an adult (at least 5 years older) before the age of 15 (whether unwanted or not). These figures were not included in our analysis
12. Included pawing or indecent touching.
13. Survey question: “Have you experienced any sexual acts by adults that were unpleasant, disgusting, or frightening?” This was regarded as a narrow definition of CSA in the current analysis.
14. “Forceful sexual actions.” This was regarded as a narrow definition of CSA in the current analysis.
15. The participants were a subset from a larger data collection. The main sample consisted of two data collections. Of the participants, 3,547 originated from the first data collection and 9,378 from the second.
16. The first data collection targeted 33- to 43-year-old twins. The second data collection targeted 18- to 33-year-olds and their over 18-year-old siblings.
17. There were four items assessing experiences of CSA, but they were not mutually exclusive. Here the figures from the “touching” item are used.
18. The original sample consisted of 6th graders and 9th graders, 13,459 in total. The current analysis is based on the answers from the 9th graders (N = 5,762).
19. The survey also investigated the prevalence of CSA before the age of 13. These figures were not included in our analysis of the prevalence rates.
20. There were separate categories for family members. As these were mutually exclusive, these figures were merged.
21. There were 14 categories in total, which were not mutually exclusive. Here the main categories are listed.
22. The categories were not mutually exclusive.
23. Biological parents, grandparents, brother, cousin, stepfather.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Kathrine Kloppen
Kathrine Kloppen, master in health sciences, is a senior executive officer at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Bergen, and a PhD student affiliated to Uni Research Health and University of Bergen, Norway. Her current research interests focus on child maltreatment, child sexual abuse and bullying.
Siren Haugland
Siren Haugland, MD, MSc, PhD, is a senior researcher at the Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health, in Bergen, Norway. Her research interests focus on adolescent health and health promotion through evidence based goals for collaboration between schools and health services.
Carl Göran Svedin
Carl Göran Svedin, MD, PhD, is a professor in child and adolescent psychiatry, at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. He has a long clinical experience, and his major research areas are trauma, child abuse, and neglect in children and adolescents. Svedin is initiator to the treatment unit BUP-Elefanten, the Child Advocacy Center in Linköping, and the National Competence Center in Child Abuse in Linköping.
Magne Mæhle
Magne Mæhle, PhD, is associate professor at the Department of Social Science at Sogn og Fjordane University College. His current research interests focus on the relationship between child and caregivers and its developmental consequences. He received his PhD from the University of Bergen.
Kyrre Breivik
Kyrre Breivik is a senior researcher at the Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Welfare, Uni Research Health, in Bergen, Norway. His current research interests focus on bullying, child and adolescent development, and children’s adjustment to divorce. He received his PhD from the University of Bergen.