N. Garnefski et E. Arends, SEXUAL ABUSE AND ADOLESCENT MALADJUSTMENT - DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE VICTIMS, Journal of adolescence, 21(1), 1998, pp. 99-107
In this study data from a large representative community sample of ado
lescents were analysed to investigate the relationship between a histo
ry of sexual abuse and adolescent functioning. Emotional problems, beh
avioural problems, suicidal thoughts and behaviour of boys and girls w
ith a history of sexual abuse were compared to those in a matched cont
rol group of boys and girls without such a history. Both sexually abus
ed boys and girls reported significantly more emotional problems, beha
vioural problems, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts than their no
n-abused counterparts. The results also indicated that the experience
of sexual abuse carried far more consequences for boys than for girls
regarding the use of alcohol, aggressive/criminal behaviour, use of dr
ugs, and the amount of truancy, as well as regarding suicidal thoughts
and behaviour. For example, whereas 2.6% of the non-abused boys repor
ted a former suicide attempt, this percentage was 13 times higher for
the sexually abused boys (26 .5%). The results of this paper lend supp
ort to the call for further research investigating gender differences
in response to sexual abuse. (C) 1998 The Association for Professional
s in Services for Adolescents.