Child-on-child sexual abuse

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Child-on-child sexual abuse refers to a form of child sexual abuse in which a prepubescent child is sexually abused by one or more other children or adolescent youths, and in which no adult is directly involved. The term describes sexual activity between children that occurs without consent, without equality, or as a result of coercion.[1] This includes when one of the children uses physical force, threats, trickery or emotional manipulation to elicit cooperation. In some instances, the initiator exploits the other child's naivety. Child-on-child sexual abuse is further differentiated from normative sexual play or anatomical curiosity and exploration (i.e. "playing doctor") because of overt and deliberate actions directed at sexual stimulation or orgasm.[2] When sexual abuse is perpetrated by one sibling upon another, it is known as "intersibling abuse".[3]

Contents

[edit] Epidemiology

According to some research, initiators of child-on-child sexual abuse have often been sexually victimized by an adult beforehand,[4][5] or by another child who was in turn abused by an adult. In other instances, the perpetrator was exposed to pornography or repeatedly witnessed sexual activity of adults at a very young age.[4] According to Drew Pinsky, MD, this is because young children who have not matured sexually are incapable of knowing about specific sex acts without an external source.[5]

[edit] Prevalence

Child-on-child sexual abuse often goes unreported, for several reasons. It is not widely known of in the public[2], and often occurs outside of adults' supervision. Even if known by adults, it is sometimes dismissed as harmless.[2] In particular, intersibling abuse is underreported relative to the reporting rates for parent-child sexual abuse,[3] and disclosure of the incest by the victim during childhood is rare.[6]

[edit] Effects

Children who were sexually victimized by other minors, including intersibling abuse, show largely the same problems as children victimized by adults, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, suicide, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and difficulty trusting peers in the context of relationships.[1][7] Intersibling abuse often results in distortion of the victim's beliefs about child sexual abuse.[6]

Major factors that affect the severity of symptoms include the use of force or coercion, the frequency of the abuse, and the invasiveness of the act.[8] An increased risk of victimization later in life has also been reported.[9]

[edit] In the media

The media has reported on this phenomenon. In once instance, an eleven year old girl accused an eight and a nine year old boy of simultaneously raping her.[10][11][12] Internet and reality show star Tila Tequila claims in an interview to have been molested by an 8 year old female friend when she was 5 years old.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Jon A. Shaw et al. (September, 2004). "Child on child sexual abuse: psychological perspectives," Child Abuse & Neglect Volume 24, Issue 12, December 2000, Pages 1591-1600.
  2. ^ a b c Loseke, Donileen R.; Gelles, Richard J. and Cavanaugh, Mary M. (2005). Current Controversies on Family Violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc. ISBN 0-76192-106-0. 
  3. ^ a b John V. Caffaroa, Allison Conn-Caffaro. "Treating sibling abuse families". Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume 10, Issue 5, July-August 2005, Pages 604-623. Elsevier. 
  4. ^ a b Alison Gray et al. (October, 1997). Children with sexual behavior problems and their caregivers: Demographics, functioning, and clinical patterns,” Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Volume 9, Number 4 / October, 1997, p. 267-290.
  5. ^ a b c Drew Pinsky, MD and Ted Stryker (November 5, 2007) "Loveline" (audio interview, 0:38:45-0:40:31). lovelineshow.com. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Bonnie E. Carlson, PhD (December, 2006). " Sibling Incest: Reports from Forty-One Survivors ," Journal of Child Sexual Abuse: Volume 15, Issue 4, December 2006, Pages 19-34.
  7. ^ Jane M. Rudd, and Sharon D. Herzbergerb. "Brother-sister incest—father-daughter incest: a comparison of characteristics and consequences". Child Abuse & Neglect Volume 23, Issue 9, September 1999, Pages 915-928. Elsevier. 
  8. ^ Brown, Janelle C., Ph.D. (September, 2004). "Child-on-child sexual abuse: An investigation of behavioral and emotional sequelae," University of Pennsylvania, p. 1539.
  9. ^ Catalina M. Arata (June 2002). Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Revictimization,” Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, Volume 9 Issue 2 / June 2002, p. 135-164.
  10. ^ Boys, 8 And 9, Charged With Rape, Police In Georgia Charge Three Boys With Kidnapping And Raping 11-Year-Old Girl - CBS News
  11. ^ Digital Journal - Three boys, 8 and 9, charged with raping 11-year-old girl
  12. ^ Three young boys, ages 8 and 9, accused of raping 11-year-old girl
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