The DOI matches its Crossref record; 26 of the 26 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A study of potential risk factors for sexual abuse in childhood
Abstract
Research aimed at identifying risk factors for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is crucial for the development of preventative strategies. This study examined the relationship between a number of possible risk factors and CSA in a community sample of women using multivariate analysis and carefully operationalized variables. The variables significantly associated with CSA were physical abuse, having a mother who was mentally ill, not having someone to confide in, and being socially isolated. With the exception of physical abuse, different predictors emerged for abuse before and after age 12. Social isolation and experiencing the death of a mother were significant predictors for abuse before age 12, while the predictors of CSA after age 12 were physical abuse and a mentally ill mother. For abuse perpetrated by a family member, the significant predictors of CSA were physical abuse, having no one to confide in, having no caring female adult, and having an alcoholic father. For girls abused by someone outside of the family, the significant predictors were physical abuse, social isolation, mother's death, and having an alcoholic mother. While CSA can happen to any child, this study highlights circumstances that may increase the chances of abuse and should form the basis of prevention and intervention strategies.
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“Parenting characterized by low care and involvement has also been associated with greater CSA risk.”
From Recall of sexual abuse prevention education at school and home: Associations with sexual abuse experience, disclosure, protective parenting, and knowledge (2022) · cites this paper as Fleming et al., 1997
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Self-citation
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Child sexual abuse and subsequent psychopathology: results from the National Comorbidity Survey
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Metadata
- Authors
- Fleming, J., Mullen, P., & Bammer, G.
- Affiliations
- Australian National University (AU)
- Monash University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Fleming, Jillian
- ORCID
- Bammer, Gabriele
- Venue
- Child Abuse & Neglect
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1997-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 49-58
- ISSN
- 0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1967368791
- Cited by
- 215
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 6.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
- Keywords
- child sexual abuse, risk factors, physical abuse, maternal mental illness, social isolation, mother's death, maternal alcoholism, paternal alcoholism, abuse prevention, women survivors, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence screening
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Alcoholism, Australia, Child, Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal Deprivation, Social Isolation, Child of Impaired Parents
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