Sexual victimization in Norwegian children and adolescents: victims, offenders, assaults

A random sample of 465 Norwegian adolescents (mean age 19.3 years) from the general population answered a questionnaire related to sexual victimization. 17.2% of the girls reported being sexually assaulted, 6.8% in childhood and 10.4% during their teens. Only 0.9% of the boys reported such experiences. Three patterns of victimization were identified: (1) Prepubertal girls abused by adult men, usually relatives or other trusted superiors. (2) Adolescent girls victimized by their boyfriends, other peers and-to a lesser degree-unknown persons. (3) A small group of girls reporting continual assaults by several offenders. By the end of their teens, it is assumed that 2.8% of the girls have experienced 'grave' and prolonged sexual abuse, which invariably started during childhood. Another 7.6% have experienced 'serious' assaults, either in childhood or in adolescence.