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Beyond Sexual Abuse: The Impact of Other Maltreatment Experiences On Sexualized Behaviors

SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, melissamerrick{at}gmail.com

Alan J. Litrownik, PhD

San Diego State University

Mark D. Everson, PhD

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Christine E. Cox, PhD

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

This study sought to broaden research findings linking maltreatment to sexualized behaviors by investigating whether maltreatment experiences other than sexual abuse predict such behaviors. The sample included 690 children without reported sexual abuse histories who are participants in the LONGSCAN Consortium, a prospective multisite investigation of childhood maltreatment. Child Protective Service reports before age 8 years and caregiver reports on the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory-II at age 8 years were used to examine the relationship between maltreatment timing and type, and sexualized behaviors. Logistic regression analyses suggested that early (< 4) and late (4-8) reports of physical abuse were associated with more sexualized behaviors (odds ratios = 1.9-2.6). The pattern differed by gender, with physical abuse predicting sexual intrusiveness and displaying private parts in boys, and boundary problems in girls. Findings suggest that maltreatment other than sexual abuse, and the developmental periods in which it occurs, may be linked to the development of sexualized behaviors.

Key Words: child maltreatment • Child Sexual Behavior Inventory • child sexual behaviors • logistic regression • sexualized behaviors

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