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Clinician's Views on Sexually Aggressive Children and Their Families: A Theoretical Exploration

NCJ Number
165337
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1997) Pages: 157-170
Author(s)
D L Burton; A A Nesmith; L Badten
Date Published
1997
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study obtained information on behavioral and family characteristics of sexually aggressive children from a national convenience sample of treatment providers, so as to gain descriptive data and investigate the tentative use of a social learning theory model of sexual aggression by children.
Abstract
A total of 155 professionals responded to a questionnaire that solicited information on their work with 287 sexually aggressive children aged 12 and under. A number of family variables may have impacted the children's sexual behavior. The average child resided in a two-parent home, and in most of these families (70 percent), at least one caretaker was chemically dependent; 48 percent have at least one parent known to have been sexually abused; and 72 percent of the children were sexually abused themselves (60 percent by a caretaker). The children with known sexual abuse histories were younger at the first sign of sexual aggression than those without known sexual abuse histories. Children under 6 years of age were more likely to perceive their sexually aggressive behavior as normal than were older children. Differences based on gender of the children were not found for sexual aggression. The results suggest the potential for the use of a social learning theory with sexual aggression in children. Implications for practice and suggestions for further research are discussed. 1 table, 6 figures, and 33 references