Perpetrator-victim relationship: Long-term effects of sexual abuse for men and women
Abstract
This study investigated the emotional and familial relationships of 465 victims and perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse. Four hundred nineteen women and 56 men who were victims of childhood sexual abuse completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist-33 (TSC-33; J. Briere & M. Runtz, 1989) and a severity of sexual abuse scale. In addition, the abuse survivors answered questions about their emotional relationships with the offender prior to the abuse. The data were analyzed with analysis of variance. The dependent variable was the adjustment to the trauma, as measured by the TSC-33. The independent variables were perpetrator identity, gender, level of abuse, and emotional feelings exhibited toward the perpetrator prior to being sexually abused. The most pervasive symptoms were found among participants who were abused by a father figure and women who were very severely abused. Contrary to theoretical expectations, there were no statistically significant differences based on gender.
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Reported rates of sexual abuse by stepfathers and mothers' partners are much higher, between 20% and 30%.
“however reported rates of abuse by stepfathers and mothers' partners is much higher, between 20 and 30% (Sariola & Uutela, 1996;Wyatt, Loeb, Solis & Carmona, 1999;Finkelhor, Hotaling, Lewis & Smith, 1990; U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 2005;Russell, 1983;Ketring & Feinauer, 1999).”
From Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Opportunities: Parenting, Programs, and the Reduction of Risk (2018) · cites this paper as Ketring & Feinauer, 1999
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- Authors
- Ketring, S., & Feinauer, L.
- ORCID
- Ketring, Scott
- Venue
- The American Journal of Family Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1999-04
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 109-120
- ISSN
- 0192-6187 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2158785035
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Family Therapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Keywords
- child sexual abuse, perpetrator-victim relationship, long-term effects of abuse, trauma symptoms, gender differences, abuse severity, women survivors
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