Sexual Violence Against Children and Youth with Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Disability Studies
• Criminology

Background:

• Children and youth with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to sexual violence compared to their peers.
• Existing research on the nuances of sexual victimization in this population is limited and often yields inconsistent findings.
• A comprehensive understanding of rates, risk factors, and perpetrator characteristics is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize existing research on sexual violence affecting children and youth with disabilities.
• To identify and analyze the rates of sexual violence, associated risk factors, and characteristics of victims, environments, and perpetrators.
• To inform the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major academic databases (EBSCO, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycInfo, Sage).
• Studies were selected and reviewed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Twelve relevant studies were included in the final synthesis.

Main Results:

• Sexual violence is a significant public health issue for children and youth with disabilities, with young girls and those with intellectual disabilities being particularly at risk.
• Identified risk factors include social isolation, dependency, restrictive environments, relational inequalities, and adverse family dynamics.
• Perpetrators are predominantly male, including caregivers, teachers, peers, and family members, exhibiting diverse abusive behaviors across various settings.

Conclusions:

• Sexual violence against children and youth with disabilities is a pervasive problem requiring urgent public health attention.
• Understanding specific risk factors and perpetrator typologies is essential for designing effective prevention and intervention programs.
• Further research is critically needed to explore risk and protective factors and identify predictors of victimization to enhance protective measures.