Child Sexual Abuse in Boys: A Retrospective Investigation

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 2, 121 - 128, 30.06.2024

Ömer Büber , Mustafa Tolga Tunagür , Hatice Oksal , Damla Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1413416

Abstract

Objective: Although recent studies have increased public awareness of child sexual abuse, certain aspects of the issue remain unclear. While research on sexual abuse in girls is abundant, there is limited focus on boys in our country. This study aims to explore the characteristics of cases involving sexual abuse of boys in the province of Türkiye.

Methods: The study is descriptive and retrospective in nature. A total of 245 boys who underwent forensic interviews for alleged sexual abuse between September 2017 and March 2023 at the Child Advocacy Center in the province of Türkiye were retrospectively examined.

Results: The study included 245 boys aged 3-18 with a mean age of 11.04±3.39. The most common type of sexual abuse was non-penetrative contact (57.6%). Delayed disclosure was primarily attributed to factors such as threat, fear, and shame. Sexual abuse predominantly occurred in public places (56.5%). There were significant among age groups concerning the identity of the reporters, initial disclosure persons, the existence of abuse, and reporting time. However, no significant differences were found in the presence of multiple suspects, recurrent abuse, and the incident location. Post-abuse behavioral changes in children included fear of the perpetrator (15.5%), emotional changes (15.5%), physiological changes (9.4%), and the displaying of risky behaviors (4.1%).

Conclusion: The study emphasized the importance of not overlooking sexual abuse among male children. The findings underscore the need for enhanced awareness and intervention strategies to address sexual abuse in boys within the country.

Keywords

Sexual abuse, male, child, adolescent, child advocacy center

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, Sakarya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesinin 05.12.2022 tarih ve 194630 sayılı etik kurul onayı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir.

Supporting Institution

Yok

Thanks

Yok

Erkek Çocuklarda Cinsel İstismar: Retrospektif Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Amaç: Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar çocuk cinsel istismarı konusunda toplumsal farkındalığı artırmış olsada, konunun bazı yönleri hala belirsizliğini korumaktadır. Ülkemizde kız çocuklarına yönelik cinsel istismar araştırmaları oldukça fazla iken, erkek çocuklarına yönelik araştırmalar sınırlıdır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'de erkek çocuklara yönelik cinsel istismar vakalarının özelliklerini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Yöntem: Çalışma tanımlayıcı ve retrospektif niteliktedir. Türkiye’nin bir ilindeki Çocuk İzlem Merkezi'nde Eylül 2017 ile Mart 2023 tarihleri arasında cinsel istismar iddiasıyla adli görüşme yapılan toplam 245 erkek çocuk retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir.

Bulgular: Çalışmaya yaşları 3-18 arasında değişen ve yaş ortalaması 11,04±3,39 olan 245 erkek çocuk dahil edilmiştir. En yaygın cinsel istismar türü penetratif olmayan dokunmadır (%57,6). Bildirimin gecikmesi öncelikle tehdit, korku ve utanç gibi faktörlere bağlanmıştır. Cinsel istismar ağırlıklı olarak kamuya açık yerlerde gerçekleşmiştir (%56,5). Bildirimde bulunanların kimliği, ilk bildirimde bulunan kişiler, istismarın varlığı ve bildirim süresi açısından yaş grupları arasında anlamlı farklılıklar bulunmuştur. Ancak, birden fazla şüphelinin varlığı, tekrarlayan istismar ve olayın gerçekleştiği yer açısından anlamlı bir farklılık bulunmamıştır. Çocuklarda istismar sonrası davranış değişiklikleri arasında failden korkma (%15,5), duygusal değişiklikler (%15,5), fizyolojik değişiklikler (%9,4) ve riskli davranışlar sergileme (%4,1) yer almaktadır.

Sonuç: Çalışma, erkek çocukların da cinsel istismar açısından ihmal edilmemesinin önemini vurguladı. Bulgular, ülke içinde erkek çocuklarda cinsel istismarı ele almak için gelişmiş farkındalık ve müdahale stratejilerine duyulan ihtiyacın altını çiziyor.

Keywords

cinsel istismar, erkek, çocuk, ergen, çocuk izlem merkezi

References

• 1. Stoltenborgh M, van IJzendoorn MH, Euser EM, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. A Global Perspective on Child Sexual Abuse: Meta-Analysis of Prevalence Around the World. Child Maltreat. 2011;16(2):79-101.
• 2. Hillberg T, Hamilton-Giachritsis C, Dixon L. Review of meta-analyses on the association between child sexual abuse and adult mental health difficulties: A systematic approach. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2011;12(1):38-49.
• 3. Coles J, Lee A, Taft A, Mazza D, Loxton D. Childhood sexual abuse and its association with adult physical and mental health: results from a national cohort of young Australian women. Journal of interpersonal violence. 2015;30(11):1929-44.
• 4. Dube SR, Anda RF, Whitfield CL, Brown DW, Felitti VJ, Dong M, vd. Long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse by gender of victim. American journal of preventive medicine. 2005;28(5):430-8.
• 5. Hébert M, Tourigny M, Cyr M, McDuff P, Joly J. Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse and timing of disclosure in a representative sample of adults from Quebec. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2009;54(9):631-6.
• 6. Pereda N, Guilera G, Forns M, Gómez-Benito J. The international epidemiology of child sexual abuse: A continuation of Finkelhor (1994). Child Abuse & Neglect. 2009;33(6):331-42.
• 7. Ackard DM, Neumark-Sztainer D. Multiple sexual victimizations among adolescent boys and girls: Prevalence and associations with eating behaviors and psychological health. Journal of child sexual abuse. 2002;12(1):17-37.
• 8. Holmes WC, Slap GB. Sexual abuse of boys: Definition, prevalence, correlates, sequelae, and management. Jama. 1998;280(21):1855-62.
• 9. Trocmé N, Fallon B, MacLaurin B, Daciuk J, Felstiner C, Black T, vd. Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect–2003: Major Findings. Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. Canada; 2005.
• 10. Walrath CM, Ybarra ML, Sheehan AK, Holden EW, Burns BJ. Impact of maltreatment on children served in community mental health programs. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. 2006;14(3):143-56.
• 11. Said AP, Costa LF. Family Dynamics of Boys Victims of Sexual Abuse. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto). 2019;29:e2908. 12. Easton SD, Saltzman LY, Willis DG. “Would you tell under circumstances like that?”: Barriers to disclosure of child sexual abuse for men. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 2014;15(4):460.
• 13. Sivagurunathan M, Orchard T, MacDermid JC, Evans M. Barriers and facilitators affecting self-disclosure among male survivors of child sexual abuse: The service providers’ perspective. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2019;88:455-65.
• 14. Finkelhor D. Early and long-term effects of child sexual abuse: An update. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 1990;21(5):325-30.
• 15. Büber Ö, Oksal H. Sakarya’da 3-18 yaş cinsel istismar vakalarının değerlendirilmesi. Sosyal Sağlık Dergisi. 2022;2(1):44-58.
• 16. Alaggia R. An ecological analysis of child sexual abuse disclosure: Considerations for child and adolescent mental health. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2010;19(1):32.
• 17. McElvaney R, Greene S, Hogan D. To tell or not to tell? Factors influencing young people’s informal disclosures of child sexual abuse. Journal of interpersonal violence. 2014;29(5):928-47.
• 18. Sari SA, Bilac O, Almak TE, Butun C. A current view on the neglected topic of male child sexual abuse in the context of literature. Child Abuse Review [Internet]. Haziran 2023 [a.yer 11 Ağustos 2023]; Erişim adresi: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/car.2839
• 19. Metin Ö, Toros F, Kuygun Karcı C. Gender and age-related differences in sexually abused child and adolescents: Predictors of psychopathology (tur). Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2021;24(1):86-98.
• 20. Çöpür M, Uneri O, Aydin E, Bahali K, Tanidir C, Güneş H, vd. Characteristic features of sexually abused children and adolescents in istanbul sample. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi. Ocak 2012;13:46-50.
• 21. Gewehr E, Hensel B, Volbert R. Predicting disclosure latency in substantiated cases of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2021;122:105346.
• 22. Gündoğdu V, Erkol Z, Hösükler E, Samurcu H, Büken B. A Retrospective Study on Sexual Assault - Abuse Cases. Konuralp Tıp Dergisi. 2022;14(3):445-53.
• 23. Gazete R. Türk ceza kanunu [İnternet]. Türk ceza kanunu Eyl 26, 2004. Erişim adresi: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5237&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5
• 24. Koçtürk N, Bilginer SÇ. Adolescent sexual abuse victims’ levels of perceived social support and delayed disclosure. Children and Youth Services Review. 2020;118:105363.
• 25. Escalante-Barrios EL, Suarez-Enciso SM, Raikes H, Davis D, Garcia A, Gonen M, vd. Child-parent interactions in American and Turkish families: Examining measurement invariance analysis of child-parent relationship scale. Plos One. 2020;15(4):e0230831.
• 26. Edinburgh L, Saewyc E, Levitt C. Gender Differences In Extrafamilial Sexual Abuse Experiences Among Young Teens. The Journal of School Nursing. 2006;22(5):278-84.
• 27. Magalhães T, Taveira F, Jardim P, Santos L, Matos E, Santos A. Sexual abuse of children. A comparative study of intra and extra-familial cases. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2009;16(8):455-9.
• 28. O’Leary P, Easton SD, Gould N. The effect of child sexual abuse on men: Toward a male sensitive measure. Journal of interpersonal violence. 2017;32(3):423-45.
• 29. Veenema TG, Thornton CP, Corley A. The public health crisis of child sexual abuse in low and middle income countries: An integrative review of the literature. International journal of nursing studies. 2015;52(4):864-81.
• 30. Mwangi MW, Kellogg TA, Brookmeyer K, Buluma R, Chiang L, Otieno-Nyunya B, vd. Perpetrators and context of child sexual abuse in Kenya. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2015;44:46-55.
• 31. Carlson FM, Grassley J, Reis J, Davis K. Characteristics of Child Sexual Assault Within a Child Advocacy Center Client Population. Journal of Forensic Nursing. 2015;11(1):15.
• 32. Bicanic IAE, Hehenkamp LM, van de Putte EM, van Wijk AJ, de Jongh A. Predictors of delayed disclosure of rape in female adolescents and young adults. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 2015;6(1):25883.
• 33. McElvaney R, Moore K, O’Reilly K, Turner R, Walsh B, Guerin S. Child sexual abuse disclosures: Does age make a difference? Child abuse & neglect. 2020;99:104121.
• 34. Easton SD. Disclosure of child sexual abuse among adult male survivors. Clinical Social Work Journal. 2013;41(4):344-55.
• 35. Azzopardi C, Eirich R, Rash CL, MacDonald S, Madigan S. A meta-analysis of the prevalence of child sexual abuse disclosure in forensic settings. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2019;93:291-304.
• 36. Maikovich-Fong AK, Jaffee SR. Sex differences in childhood sexual abuse characteristics and victims’ emotional and behavioral problems: Findings from a national sample of youth. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2010;34(6):429-37.
• 37. Duchesne S, Seyller M, Chariot P. Male sexual assaults in the Paris, France area: An observational study over 8 years. Forensic Science International. 2018;290:16-28.
• 38. Valente SM. Sexual Abuse of Boys. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. 2005;18(1):10-6.
• 39. Escalante-Barrios EL, Fàbregues S, Meneses J, García-Vita M del M, Jabba D, Ricardo-Barreto C, vd. Male-On-Male Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse in the Caribbean Region of Colombia: A Secondary Analysis of Medico-Legal Reports. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(21):8248.
• 40. Büber Ö, Oksal H, Alnak A. Çocuk izlem merkezine başvuran vakalarının incelenmesi: bir merkezin 5 yıllık deneyimi. Adli Tıp Dergisi. 2023;37(1):12-8.
• 41. Üstün Güllü B, Erden G. Cinsel İstismar Mağduru Çocuklarla Adli Görüşme ve Önemi. Haziran 2022 [a.yer 23 Ağustos 2023]; Erişim adresi: https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/98635
• 42. Lamb ME, Garretson ME. The Effects of Interviewer Gender and Child Gender on the Informativeness of Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Victims in Forensic Interviews. Law and Human Behavior. 2003;27(2):157-71.
• 43. Fontes LA, Plummer C. Cultural Issues in Disclosures of Child Sexual Abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 2010;19(5):491-518.