Family Environmental Characteristics as Risk Factors for Childhood Sexual Abuse

Identifying family environment characteristics that are risk factors for childhood sexual abuse is central to abuse prevention. In this study, 76 college students who reported a history of childhood sexual abuse and their siblings were compared to 76 age- and gender-matched controls and their siblings. All subjects completed the Family Environment Scale (FES) along with questions regarding family history and demographic characteristics. Utilizing multivariate logistic-regression techniques, parental absence was found to be the most powerful risk factor for childhood sexual abuse. The level of family conflict also contributed significantly to the prediction of sexual abuse. Several FES measures interacted with present age and/or age at the time of abuse to predict childhood sexual abuse.