SEX-DIFFERENCES IN THE EXPERIENCE OF CHILD SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION

This study analyzed 390 (303 girls and 87 boys) cases of child sexual abuse to understand sex differences in child sexual victimization. Ana lyses focusese on three domains that have received considerable empiri cal attention: victims' relationships with the offender, type and exte nt of abuse, and disclosure. Findings largely replicated previous effo rts that reported sex differences in terms of victims' relationships w ith offenders. Although results also replicated previous findings abou t sex differences in disclosure patterns, these sex differences were m inor in comparison with similarities in the way most instances of abus e were eventually identified. In terms of type and extent of abuse, re sults were the opposite of previous findings: girls, not boys, were th e victims of more physical injury, violent threats, and use of force; and girls, not boys, were more likely to have physically resisted abus e. Divergences in findings were interpreted in terms of memory biases and social forces operating differently on the sexes.