Psychosocial and developmental characteristics of female adolescents who have committed sexual offenses.

C van der Put, E.S. van Vugt, G.J.J.M. Stams, J. Hendriks

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine differences in psychosocial and developmental characteristics between Adolescent Females who have committed Sexual Offenses (AFSOs; n = 40), Adolescent Females who have committed nonsexual Violent Offenses (AFVOs; n = 533), and Adolescent Males who have committed Sexual Offenses (AMSO, n = 743). Results showed that AFSOs and AMSOs were remarkably similar, whereas AFSOs and AFVOs were remarkably different on the measured variables. Compared to AFVOs, AFSOs less often had antisocial friends and problems in the domains of school (truancy, behavior problems, dropping out of school) and family (e.g., parental problems, poor authority and control, and run away from home). Victimization of sexual abuse outside the family and social isolation were found to be more common in AFSOs than in AFVOs. Victimization of sexual abuse outside the family was the only specific characteristic of female adolescent sexual offending, as this was more common in AFSOs than in both AMSOs and AFVOs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)330-342
JournalSexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
Volume2014
Issue number26(4)
Early online date3 Jul 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Psychosocial and developmental characteristics of female adolescents who have committed sexual offenses.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this