title: The prevalence and seriousness of incestuous abuse: stepfathers vs. biological fathers.
abstract: Analysis of interviews obtained from a random sample of 930 adult women in San Francisco revealed that 17% or one out of approximately every six women who had a stepfather as a principal figure in her childhood years, was sexually abused by him. The comparable figures for biological fathers were 2% or one out of approximately 40 women. In addition, when a distinction was made between Very Serious Sexual Abuse (including experiences ranging from forced penile-vaginal penetration to non-forceful attempted fellatio, cunnilingus , and anal intercourse) and other less serious forms, 47% of the cases of sexual abuse by stepfathers were at the Very Serious level of violation compared with 26% by biological fathers. Possible explanations for these starting discrepancies are discussed, and some of the implications for remarriage are considered.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002649:Child Abuse; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest; D007872:Legal Guardians