The Prevalence and Patterns of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Victim-Perpetrator Relationship among a Sample of University Students

Abstract

This is an investigation into the prevalence and patterns of child sexual abuse and victim-perpetrator relationship among a sample of university students. 722 undergraduate students of psychology at the University of the North, South Africa, filled in a retrospective self-rating questionnaire in a classroom setting. The questionnaire asked childhood sexual forms of abuse, victim-perpetrator relationships and self-rating of childhood. Result shows an overall (N=649) child sexual abuse prevalence rate of 25.6%; 21.7% for males (N=244), 23.7% for females (N=465). 18.2% were kissed sexually, 13.6% were touched sexually, 8.7% were victims of oral/anal/vaginal intercourse. Most of the perpetrators are people known to the victims. Many victims (83% of the male victims and 68.2% of the female victims) perceived themselves as not sexually abused during childhood; and most rated their childhood as either “average” (41.3% of the female victims and 48.9% of the male victims) or as “very happy” (41.3% of the female victims and 40.4% of the male victims). The author calls for more research, publicity, and campaigns against childhood sexual abuse in the Northern Province.