Child Sexual Abuse Myth Scale: Validity and Reliability Evidence in the Portuguese Context

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Sociology

Background:

• Child sexual abuse myths perpetuate harmful beliefs.
• These myths contribute to victim blaming and reduced offender accountability.
• Validating measurement tools is crucial for research and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and validate the Child Sexual Abuse Myth Scale (CSAMS) for the Portuguese context.
• To provide evidence of the scale's validity and reliability.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the Portuguese CSAMS.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 423 adult participants.
• Utilized sociodemographic questionnaire, Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, and the CSAMS.
• Statistical analyses included reliability testing and validity assessments (configural, metric, and criterion).

Main Results:

• The Portuguese CSAMS demonstrated reliability and supported its original three-dimensional structure: Blame Diffusion, Restrictive Stereotypes, and Denial of Abusiveness.
• Measurement invariance across sexes was confirmed.
• Criterion validity was established through significant correlations with sexism and sex.

Conclusions:

• The Portuguese version of the CSAMS is a valid and reliable instrument.
• This scale can be used to study child sexual abuse myths in Portuguese-speaking populations.
• Findings underscore the importance of addressing these myths in prevention and intervention efforts.