Citation

Hunter JA, Figueredo AJ. Behav. Modif. 2000; 24(2): 241-263.

Affiliation

School of Medicine, University of Virginia, UVA Health System, Charlottesville 22908, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10804682

Abstract

Structural equation modeling was used to delineate the relationship between sexual victimization and personality variables in the prediction of patterns of child molestation in adolescent males. Two hundred thirty-five adolescents, representing subsamples of sexually victimized and nonvictimized, perpetrating and nonperpetrating, and emotionally maladjusted and nonmaladjusted youths, participated in the study. Juvenile child molesters were found to have more pessimistic explanatory styles and deficits in self-sufficiency relative to nonoffending youths. A younger age at time of victimization, a greater number of incidents, a longer period of waiting to report the abuse, and a lower level of perceived family support postrevelation of the abuse were found to be predictive of subsequent sexual perpetration. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Language: en