Risk and Protective Factors for Child Sexual Abuse: A Comparison of 2013 and 2022

Area of Science:

• Child psychology
• Criminology
• Public health

Background:

• Understanding risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse (CSA) is crucial for effective prevention.
• Research on the temporal changes in the significance of these CSA factors is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine and compare the risk factors for CSA in 2022 with those identified in 2013.
• To analyze how the significance of these factors has changed over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Finnish child victim surveys from 2013 and 2022, involving representative samples of sixth and ninth graders.
• Employed logistic regression models and average marginal effects to compare risk factors between the two time periods.
• Analyzed moderation effects of time to identify between-year differences.

Main Results:

• Being assigned female at birth, substance use, and experiencing physical abuse at home were significant risk factors in both 2013 and 2022.
• In 2022, younger age, witnessing domestic violence, public time, and guardian awareness were no longer significant risk factors.
• Having special needs became a significant risk factor in 2022, unlike in 2013, indicating a temporal shift.

Conclusions:

• The significance of risk factors for child sexual abuse can change over time.
• Updated research on CSA risk factors is essential for developing targeted and effective prevention programs for at-risk children.