Analysis of interviews with 365 adults sexually molested as children indicated the following: the majority of the perpetrators (62%) were either biological fathers or father-surrogates; 99% of the perpetrators were known to the victim; and 97% were male. (Author/DB)

To determine whether the molestation experiences of boys and girls differ, this study analyzed data from 365 adults (40 male and 325 female) molested as children, and compared findings for males and females on the identity of the perpetrator, age at onset and end of molestation, duration of molestation, type of sexual acts, and whether the…

In 1896, Sigmund Freud stated that early childhood seduction caused hysteria in his female patients. He later recanted his original finding and claimed that the reports of abuse he heard from his patients were not descriptions of real events, but his patients' expressions of unconscious childhood wishes. The theory of the Oedipal complex gave…

Age at which sexual molestation starts has implications for prevention education and theories regarding etiology of child sexual abuse. For a sample of 365 adults molested as children, average age of onset was 7.5; average age at end of molestation was 13; duration was usually one year or more. (Author/JW)

A study involving 50 law enforcement officers found the majority had received training in evaluating sexually abused children and exhibited behavior that was sensitive yet mindful of the legal nature of their assessments. Half of the officers, however, did not follow a standard procedure when using anatomically correct dolls. (CR)

This study explored the relationship between characteristics of abuse and time before seeking treatment for adults molested as children. Those who sought early treatment were called early presenters; those who sought treatment later in life were called late presenters. Data were collected from intake interviews of 364 adults molested as children.…

Interviews with 201 Boston-area professionals who work with child victims of sexual abuse found; that 147 used anatomically correct dolls; that 96.6 percent of these had received specific training; that 77.8 percent followed some standard protocol for interviewing; and that 97.3 percent had at least 1 year of experience with such dolls. (DB)

A total of 201 professionals who work with victims of child sexual abuse were asked to rate the extent to which various behaviors with anatomically correct dolls would be normal for nonabused children between 2 and 5.9 years of age. Subjects were either law enforcement or mental health professionals. Behaviors ranged from such ambiguous behaviors…

Until recently the literature on the impact of child sexual abuse has consisted disproportionately of retrospective studies of adults. Research on children allows for a developmental perspective and includes the first efforts at longitudinal studies of sexual abuse victims. This literature also has important relevance to other theory and research…

Telephone interviews were conducted with 201 Boston-area professionals who work with child victims of sexual abuse. Questions concerned use of anatomical dolls and other techniques and behavioral indicators of sexual abuse. Results indicated that mental health professionals used significantly more techniques than did law enforcement professionals.…

Professionals (n=201) working with child sexual abuse victims rated the normalcy of various behaviors with anatomical dolls for children ages two to five. Respondents agreed that overtly sexual behaviors were abnormal for nonabused children, but ratings of ambiguous behaviors varied depending on respondent's profession, gender, and years of…

To determine how often children falsely report being sexually abused, this study asked professionals to indicate the percentage of children with whom they had worked who had made false reports. In addition, this study examined the variables that might be associated with the percentage of false allegations reported by professionals. The factors…