Child peer sexual abuse: preliminary data on outcomes and disclosure experiences.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared experiences of children sexually abused by peers to those of children abused by adolescents/adults. Variables examined included perceived negativity of the abuse, self-reported outcomes, overall psychological functioning, and disclosure.


METHODS
An archival data set containing retrospective reports of childhood sexual experiences was culled for instances of sexual abuse by child peers and adolescents/adults. An equivalent nonabused comparison group was identified. The Self-Report Outcome Checklist (SROC; Gilbert, 1994b), the MMPI-Hugo Short Form (Hugo, 1971) and a disclosure survey were also retrieved from these data.


RESULTS
Compared to abuse by peers, abuse perpetrated by adolescents/adults was more intrusive and intrafamilial. Both groups rated their experiences as equally negative, and reported equally pervasive outcomes. Those abused by adolescents/adults reported significantly higher scores on the Psychopathic Deviate, Psychasthenia, and Schizophrenia scales compared to nonabused controls; similar findings did not emerge for those abused by child peers. Less than a fourth in either abuse group reported disclosing their experience to a parent. Among those who did not disclose, participants abused by child peers anticipated less support from both parents and more anger from their mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that child peer sexual abuse may be associated with adverse outcomes.
Sperry
Debbie M
DM
Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA.
Gilbert
Brenda O
BO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires