Citation

Whealin JM, Zinzow HM, Salstrom SA, Jackson JL. J. Child Sex. Abus. 2007; 16(3): 41-58.

Affiliation

National Center for PTSD, Honolulu, HI 96744, USA. julia.whealin@va.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18032239

Abstract

Girls receive considerable amounts of unwanted sexual attention (UWSA) and behaviors (UWSB). Less is known about boys' unwanted sexual experiences. The primary goal of this study was to obtain a descriptive profile of the types and perpetrators of childhood UWSA/B. Secondary goals were to examine sex differences in emotional reactions to UWSA/B and influence of perpetrator. As many as 100 male and 100 female undergraduates completed the Exposure to Sexual Attention Scale and the Emotional Reaction Checklist. Results indicated that the majority of participants experienced UWSA/B during childhood, with females reporting higher rates of UWSB than males. Sex differences were also observed regarding types of perpetrators and emotional reactions. Findings are discussed as they relate to the sociocultural norms in which children are reared.

Language: en