A survey of undergraduates (N=427) in Queensland (Australia) found child sexual abuse prevalence rates of 19% for males and 45% for females, with incestuous abuse reported by 9% of males and 19% of females. Other findings addressed age at onset of abuse, gender, types of unwanted sexual experiences, and media exposure. (DB)

This study examined personality traits in 63 pairs of fathers and mothers in which there was acknowledged child sexual abuse by the fathers. A minority of both mothers and offenders differed from norms on traits reflecting social inadequacy, but no personality deviations were prototypical in either group. No evidence for pervasive…

This review of the literature and of 29 child abuse cases resulted in the conclusion that a complete assessment of risk of child physical abuse must include a measure of parental empathy, such as the Adult-Adolescent Parent Inventory. Child physical abuse was predicted by a negative correlation between parental empathy and stress in the…

This study attempted to verify the validity of allegations of sexual molestation obtained using facilitated communication from two adolescents with autism. The study, using unfamiliar but experienced facilitators, found that no reliable communication occurred via facilitated communication, with both subjects' responses being essentially random and…

This study, with 39 4-year-olds, found that children had better free recall accuracy and lowered suggestibility when they participated with a "babysitter" rather than observed a babysitter and child. Addition of forensic context (by a policeman prior to questioning) increased error in free recall but did not affect children's accuracy in…

Adults (n=801) were questioned about punishment they received as children and their own discipline practices. Analysis revealed that verbal and physical discipline were commonly used together. Respondents who were spanked and yelled at frequently as children were more prone to frequently spank and yell at their own children. (Author/DB)

This study of 45 hospitalized abused children examined risk factors for child abuse when social class effects were minimized. Abused children were more likely to have younger parents and fewer siblings and to have been separated from their parents during the first year of life. Their parents were more likely to have been abused as children.…

This study examined factors associated with failure of child abuse victims to attend their first recommended counseling session. Attenders (n=84) differed from nonattenders (n=45) on the basis of race, whether the center to which they were referred was private or public, whether the family had a telephone, and the mother's attitude toward…

An evaluation of one therapeutic service offered to sexually abused children in the United Kingdom exposed the methodological issue of false negatives among the comparison group, suggesting that researchers cannot assume that nonreferred comparison subjects have not actually experienced sexual abuse. (DB)

Questionnaires completed by 824 college students concerning sexual abuse indicated that women had stronger pro-social beliefs, attitudes, and emotional reactions concerning abuse than did men. Although equal numbers of males and females had been approached by potential perpetrators, only 6% of men but 13% of women reported being sexually abused as…

This study applied criteria from Statement Validity Analysis (SVA) protocols to aggregate record review data of alleged sexual abuse of over 100 children in a day-care center. The use of SVA criteria supported the veritability of allegations in this case, with the data analysis reflecting consistency, logical structure, and spontaneity of…

Analysis of questionnaire responses of 280 women found that 28.2% were objectively defined as abused as children though only 11.4% subjectively defined themselves as abused. Depression was highest (83%) among those who defined themselves as abused, intermediate (56%) among those only objectively defined as abused, and least (35%) among those not…

Sixty-five mothers of sexual abuse victims and 25 of their daughters were compared with 65 control mothers and 32 control daughters on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the Leisure Interest Checklist. Results showed both study groups to be significantly less impulsive than their control counterparts. Victim mothers also presented…

Analysis of 656 responses of a gender-stratified random sample of U.S. mental health clinicians found that 13% of the men and 20% of the women reported a personal history of childhood sexual abuse; 7.3% of the men and 6.9% of the women reported a history of childhood physical abuse. (Author/DB)

Undergraduate students (N=404) read vignettes depicting a sexual interaction between a child and an adult in which the child's sex, child's age, and adult's sex were manipulated. Abuse was perceived as worse if the child was younger and for same-sex (rather than opposite-sex) interactions. Gender-role attitudes were not related to abusiveness or…