Assessment of cyber abuse in sexually abused children and adolescents

Year 2019, , 58 - 67, 04.01.2019

Merve Çıkılı Uytun , Sevgi Özmen , Esra Demirci

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.392361

Abstract

Objectives: Child sexual abuse is associated with adverse
outcomes, including increased vulnerability, that may explain the risk of
revictimization via cyber media and cyber abuse may be a risk factor for sexual
abuse. The aims of the study were to explore cyber abuse prevalence in sexual
abuse cases, the direct and indirect links between child sexual abuse and cyber
abuse and to study the differences in internet use between children and
adolescents who were sexually abused and the control group.

Methods: We assessed 75 children and adolescents aged 7-18 who had experienced sexual
abuse and were referred to us between 01.01.2014-01.01.2015. Additionally, 45
typical developing subjects who did not have any abuse history were recruited
from pediatrics clinic of or hospital as the control group. We used our
semi-structured questionnaire to assess cyber abuse.

Results: The rates of
internet use were high in the control group (97.8%) compared to those of
sexually abused teens (82.7%). However, the rates of cyber abuse were similar
between the groups. The most used web site/application was different between
the groups. Facebook was the most used web site/application in the sexually
abused group (69.4%). This ratio was only 20.5% in the control group.

Conclusions: We assessed cyber abuse in a population exposed to sexual abuse. As several
authors have previously emphasized, the implementation of preventative steps is
essential. There is a great need to develop and evaluate interventions with
those children and young people, particularly in sexually abused children and
adolescents who are thought to be more vulnerable to cyber abuse. 

Keywords

child, abuse, sexual, cyber

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