Gender Differences in Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents: A Multicenter Study in Turkey.
The purpose of this study was to examine gender-based differences in abuse-related characteristics and post-abuse psychiatric disorders among sexually abused children and adolescents. The researchers retrospectively examined files, judicial reports, and social examination reports of 1,250 sexually abused youth cases. Results showed that boys were more often victimized by penetration, force, and physical violence. Incidence of sexual abuse by family members, familiar persons, and multiple persons was higher among girls. In addition, a higher rate of major depressive disorder as well as alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking were found in sexually abused girls. No difference was observed between boys and girls in terms of post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder, and other mental disorders. Intellectual disability was more frequent in boys.
a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Inonu University , Malatya , Turkey.
Nusret
N
Soylu
b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital , Sakarya , Turkey.
Muhammed
M
Ayaz
c Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Sevket Yılmaz Training and Research Hospital , Bursa , Turkey.
Emel Sarı
ES
Gökten
d Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Afyon Kocatepe University , Afyonkarahisar , Turkey.
Ahmet Hamdi
AH
Alpaslan
a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Inonu University , Malatya , Turkey.
Yunus Emre
YE
Dönmez
a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Inonu University , Malatya , Turkey.
Özlem Özel
ÖÖ
Özcan
b Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital , Sakarya , Turkey.
Ayşe Burcu
AB
Ayaz
e Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Abant Izzet Baysal University , Bolu , Turkey.
Ali Evren
AE
Tufan
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey
adolescent; child; child maltreatment; conduct disorder; depressive disorder; gender difference; post-traumatic stress disorder; sexual abuse