Descriptive Study of Precursors to Sex Offending among 813 Boys and Girls: Antecedent Life Experiences

Abstract

In order to understand the precursors to sexual offending among youth and the associated gender differences, the records of 813 sexually abusive children (659 boys and 154 girls) referred for an evaluation of their sexually inappropriate and coercive behavior were reviewed and coded. These children ranged in age from 3 to 18 when they committed their first hands-on offenses. All were under the care of the Massachusetts Department of Social Services either prior to or as a result of their behavior. Principle findings included: (1) a high proportion of girls (19 percent) in a sample of children flagged as sexually abusive to other children, (2) an exceptionally high base rate of severe maltreatment and associated clinical and psychiatric sequelae, and (3) girls were significantly more likely to be sexually abused, and when sexually abused the abuse lasted longer, was more severe, and involved more perpetrators. In addition, the girls were significantly more likely to witness domestic violence and to witness sexual deviance within the home. For all other types of abuse, there were no group differences, and (4) all of the children were subjected to a very high level of caregiver instability.

Keywords:

• juvenile sex offenders
• gender differences
• child maltreatment
• attachment
• sexual abuse

The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge Gary Dube for comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Support for this research was provided by grants from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Social Services, and the National Institute of Justice (2002-IJ-CX-0029). In particular we wish to thank the Department of Social Services for their support, without which our research would not be possible.

Notes

^a Determined at the time the child was ASAP evaluated.

^b 0 = None, 1 = Slight, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Severe.

*p < .05

**p < .01

***p < .005

****p < .001.

*p < .05

^a Residential placement may include group homes.

**p < .01

***p < .005

*p < .05

***p < .001.

^a 0 = 1 incident; 1 = multiple incidents < 2 years; 2 = 2–4 years; 3 = chronic, most of child's life.

^b Guttman scales, ranging from minimal to most severe: Physical Abuse–4 points; Sexual Abuse–6 points.

*p < .05

***p < .005

****p < .001.