What survivors of multiple sexual assaults tell us about their perpetrators: A retrospective observational study on age, sex, relationships, threats, and duration of sexual abuse (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive global issue with profound long-term consequences for survivors. Extensive research has documented its prevalence, perpetrator demographics, and survivor-perpetrator relationships. However, significant gaps remain in understanding the specific dynamics of multiple sexual assaults perpetrated by the same individual over time, particularly regarding the types of threats used, the duration of abuse, and the patterns of help-seeking behaviour among survivors. OBJECTIVE This retrospective observational study aimed to provide a comprehensive descriptive analysis of survivors who experienced multiple sexual assaults by the same perpetrator. It specifically examined the sex and age of survivors and perpetrators, the survivor-perpetrator relationship, the types of threats used to gain compliance, the duration of the sexual abuse, and the length of time survivors waited before seeking therapy. METHODS We analyzed archival data collected over 9 years from a large sample of 2,516 survivors of repeated sexual assaults by a single perpetrator who sought therapy at one of the sexual assault centers in Alberta, Canada. We employed descriptive statistics (means, percentages) and inferential statistics (t-test, Spearman’s rho) to analyze key variables. RESULTS The mean age at the first assault was 9.48 years, with 89% of survivors experiencing onset before age 18 years. The abuse lasted a mean of 5.07 years, with a significant negative correlation between earlier onset and longer duration. The sample was predominantly female survivors (87%). Perpetrators were overwhelmingly male (96%). Most assaults (55%) were intrafamilial (incest). Male perpetrators most frequently used physical force (29%), verbal threats (23%), bribes/promises (22%), and inferred threats (21%), while female perpetrators most often used bribes/promises (40%). Survivors waited an average of 13.9 years before seeking therapy, with males waiting significantly longer than females. CONCLUSIONS This study underscores that CSA is primarily intrafamilial, begins at a young age, and often persists for years. The findings highlight the tailored use of threats by perpetrators based on their relationship to the victim and the victim's age. The extensive delay in seeking therapy reveals critical barriers to support. The results emphasize the urgent need for early, targeted prevention strategies and trauma-informed intervention programs focused on the family environment and the specific profiles of survivors and perpetrators.