Assessment of cyber abuse in sexually abused children and adolescents

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 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

References

• [1] Kuss DJ, Griffiths MD. Internet and gaming addiction: a systematic literature review of neuroimaging studies. Brain Sci 2012;2:347-74.
• [2] Lenhart A, Madden M, Smith A, Purcell K, Zickurh K, Rainie L. Teens, kindness and cruelty on social network sites. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project 2011.
• [3] Patchin JW, Hinduja S. Bullies move beyond the schoolyard a preliminary look at cyberbullying. Youth Violence Juv Justice 2006;4:148-69.
• [4] Juvonen J, Gross EF. Extending the school grounds?--Bullying experiences in cyberspace. J Sch Health 2008;78:496-505.
• [5] Hinduja S, Patchin J. Cyberbullying: an exploratory analysis of factors related to off ending and victimization. Deviant Behav 2008;29:129-56.
• [6] Williams KR, Guerra NG. Prevalence and predictors of Internet bullying. J Adolesc Health 2007;41:14-21.
• [7] Philips F, Morrissey G. Cyberstalking and cyberpredators: a threat to safe sexuality on the Internet. Convergence 2004;10: 66-79.
• [8] Mitchell KJ, Wolak J, Finkelhor D. Trends in youth reports of sexual solicitations, harassment and unwanted exposure to pornography on the Internet. J Adolesc Health 2007;40:116-26.
• [9] Quayle E, Taylor M. Young people who sexually abuse: The role of the new technologies. In: Erooga M, Masson H, eds. Children and young people who sexually abuse others: Current developments and practice responses, 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2006.
• [10] İșeri E. Cinsel istismar. In: Çetin FÇ, Pehlivantürk B, Ünal F, eds. Çocuk ve Ergen Psikiyatrisi Temel Kitabı, 1.Baskı. Ankara: Hekimler Yayın Birliği. 2008;470-477.
• [11] Barth J, Bermetz L, Heim E, Trelle S, Tonia T. The current prevalence of child sexual abuse worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Public Health 2013;58:469-83.
• [12] Berson IR, Berson MJ, Ferron JM. Emerging risks of violence in the digital age: lessons for educators from an online study of adolescent girls in the United States. Meridian 2002;5:1-32.
• [13] Mitchell KJ, Finkelhor D, Wolak J. Risk factors for and impact of online sexual solicitation of youth. JAMA 2001;285:3011-4.
• [14] Mitchell KJ, Finkelhor D, Wolak J. The exposure of youth to unwanted sexual material on the Internet: a national survey of risk, impact, and prevention. Youth Soc 2003;34:330-358.
• [15] Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ. Youth engaging in online harassment: associations with caregiver-child relationships, internet use, and personal characteristics. J Adolesc 2004;27:319-36.
• [16] Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ. Online aggressor/targets, aggressors, and targets: a comparison of associated youth characteristics. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2004;45:1308-16.
• [17] Zweig JM, Dank M, Yahner J, Lachman P. The rate of cyber dating abuse among teens and how it relates to other forms of teen dating violence. J Youth Adolesc 2013;42:1063-77.
• [18] Hébert M, Cénat JM, Blais M, Lavoie F, Guerrier M. Child sexual abuse, bullying, cyberbullying, and mental health problems among high schools students: a moderated mediated model. Depress Anxiety 2016;33:623-9.
• [19] Beran T, Li Q. Cyber-harassment: a study of a new method for an old behavior. J Educ Comput Res 2005;32:265-77.
• [20] Shariff S. Cyber-dilemmas in the new millennium: balancing free expression and student safety in cyberspace. McGill J Educ 2005;40:467-87.
• [21] Kristman-Valente AN, Brown EC, Herrenkohl TI . Child physical and sexual abuse and cigarette smoking in adolescence and adulthood. J Adolesc Health 2013;53:533-8.
• [22] Brown J, Cohen P, Johnson JG, Salzinger S. A longitudinal analysis of risk factors for child maltreatment: findings of a 17-year prospective study of officially recorded and self-reported child abuse and neglect. Child Abuse Negl 1998;22:1065-78.
• [23] Mian M, Marton P, LeBaron D, Birtwistle D. Familial risk factors associated with intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of three to five year old girls. Can J Psychiatry 1994;39:348-53.
• [24] Fergusson DM, Lynskey MT, Horwood LJ. Childhood sexual abuse and psychiatric disorder in young adulthood: I. Prevalence of sexual abuse and factors associated with sexual abuse. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1996;35:1355-64.
• [25] Lewin L, Bergin C. Attachment behaviors, depression, and anxiety in nonoffending mothers of child sexual abuse victims. Child Maltreat 2001;6:365-75.
• [26] Leifer M, Kilbane T, Jacobsen T, Grossman G. A three generational study of transmission of risk for sexual abuse. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2004;33:662-72.
• [27] Fergusson DM, Woodward LJ, Horwood LJ. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and psychiatric adjustment in late adolescence. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998;55:721-7.
• [28] Mullen PE, Martin JL, Anderson JC, Romans SE, Herbison GP. Childhood sexual abuse and mental health in adult life. Br J Psychiatry1996;163:721-32.
• [29] Fleming J, Mullen P, Bammer G. A study of potential risk factors for sexual abuse in childhood. Child Abuse Negl 1997;21:49-58.
• [30] Nelson EC, Heath AC, Madden PA, Cooper ML, Dinwiddie SH, Bucholz KK et al. Association between self-reported childhood sexual abuse and adverse psychosocial outcomes: results from a twin study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2002;59:139-45.
• [31] Mullen PE, Martin JL, Anderson JC, Romans SE, Herbison GP. The long-term impact of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children: a community study. Child Abuse Negl 1996;20:7-21.
• [32] Sypeck MF. Attachment style and child sexual abuse: A longitudinal examination. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The American University, Washington, DC., 2004.
• [33] Zajac K, Ralston ME, Smith DW. Maternal support following childhood sexual abuse: associations with children's adjustment post-disclosure and at 9-month follow-up. Child Abuse Negl 2015;44:66-75.
• [34] Messman-Moore TL, Long PJ. The role of childhood sexual abuse sequelae in the sexual revictimization of women: an empirical review and theoretical reformulation. Clin Psychol Rev 2003;23:537-71.
• [35] Classen CC, Palesh OG, Aggarwal R. Sexual revictimization a review of the empirical literature. Trauma Violence Abuse 2005;6:103-29.
• [36] Davis JL, Petretic-Jackson PA. The impact of child sexual abuse on adult interpersonal functioning: a review and synthesis of the empirical literature. Aggress Violent Behav 2000;5:291-328.
• [37] Walsh K, Galea S, Koenen K. Mechanisms underlying sexual violence exposure and psychosocial sequelae: a theoretical and empirical review. Clin Psychol (New York) 2012;19:260-75.
• [38] Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ, Wolak J, Finkelhor D. Examining characteristics and associated distress related to Internet harassment: findings from the Second Youth Internet Safety Survey. Pediatrics 2006;118:1169-77.
• [39] Durmuş B, Kılıç B, Yurtkoru ES, Ulusu Y. Facebooktayız: Sosyal Paylaşım Ağlarının Bireylere ve İşletmelere Yönelik İncelenmesi: Facebook Üzerine Bir Çalışma. Beta Press. İstanbul, Turkey, 2010.
• [40] Gotfried K. Citizens in 24 Countries Assess Bullying via Information Technology For a Total Global Perspective. www.ipsos.com. 2011. Accessed 25.12.2016.
• [41] Mishna F, Saini M, Solomonal S. Ongoing and online: children and youth's perceptions of cyber bullying. Child Youth Serv Rev 2009;31:1222-8.
• [42] Carlson W, Rose AJ. Brief report: activities in heterosexual romantic relation- ships: Grade differences and associations with relationship satisfaction. J Adolesc 2012;35:219-24.
• [43] Stonard KE, Bowen E, Lawrence TR, Price SA. The relevance of technology to the nature, prevalence and impact of Adolescent Dating Violence and Abuse: A research synthesis. Aggress Violent Behavior 2014;19:390-417.