Prevalence, contexts, and correlates of child sexual abuse in Cyprus

Abstract

It is well documented that child sexual abuse (CSA) may be one of the major public health problems in the world, especially due to the co-occurrence with other types of abuse and negative developmental outcomes. The aim of the current study was the comprehensive examination of CSA with respect to its prevalence, its contexts of occurrence and its correlates. The sample included 1852 adolescents and young adults (15–25 years old; 441 males), recruited through schools, universities and other youth organizations across Cyprus. Participants were administered an online questionnaire assessing multiple forms of abuse, with a focus on sexual abuse, solicitation, and trafficking, as well as personality traits. The study’s results supported previous findings in Europe that 1 in 5 children may experience sexual abuse or solicitation, with females being more likely than males to be the victim of CSA. Findings also indicated that the different types of sexual abuse were more likely to occur during adolescence than other developmental stages. In addition, perpetrators were more often identified to be adolescent or adult males who were strangers or friends/acquaintances with the victims. Moreover, findings suggested that experiences of sexual abuse and solicitation co-occur with neglect, physical, and psychological abuse. Regarding personality traits, sexual abuse was found to be specifically related to grandiosity, whereas sexual solicitation was related to both impulsivity and grandiosity. The current study has practical and policy implications for intervening with sexually maltreated individuals.