Dissertation
A preliminary analysis of psychological characteristics, abuse history, and family functioning in male juvenile sex offenders
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Aug 2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-2885
Abstract
This research examined the variables that separate adolescent sex offenders fromother high-risk adolescents. The variables analyzed were psychological characteristics(repression and antisocial behavior), family functioning (traditional versus nontraditionaland extreme versus balanced) and abuse history (sexual abuse overt, sexual abuse covertand physical abuse). The research was a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlation fieldstudy. Archival data from 105 high-risk adolescent males ranging in age from 12 to 18,who have had foster care placements through IMPACT, was used. This data wasanalyzed using several empirically tested scales including The Jesness Inventory(Jesness, 1988), The Carlson Psychological Survey (Carlson, 1982) and The FamilyAdaptability and Cohesion Scale II (David Olson and Associates, 1991). The EarlySexual Experience Scale was an additional instrument used in this study (Baumgratz,2004). This instrument does not have researched psychometric properties, however thisresearcher was unable to find another appropriate measure of covert sexual abuse. Therefore, the validity and reliability of this measurement were tested as part of thisresearch. The study found that juvenile male sex offenders were more likely to haveexperiences of covert sexual abuse (p = .000), measured by The Early Sexual ExperienceScale, than other juvenile in the same foster care setting. In addition, juvenile sexoffenders who did not have a history of overt sexual abuse were also found to experiencemore covert sexual abuse than other juvenile males (p < .01). Rigidity in the familyenvironment was found to be a characteristic that was significant in relationship tojuvenile sexual offending (p = .01). Physical abuse, psychological characteristics, andfamily structure were not significantly related to juvenile males sexually offending. The statistically significance finding of covert sexual abuse being positivelycorrelated with juvenile sex offending demonstrated the importance of broadening thedefinition of sexual abuse to include sexualized behavior in the family environment, thatis not necessarily overt in nature, when working with juvenile sex offenders. This findingalso supports family sexual behavior being a therapeutic focus regardless if the familyhas a history of covert sexual abuse. The finding that a rigid family environment is significantly correlated withjuvenile males sexually offending indicates the importance of developing more flexibilityin daily choices within the family environments. Finding appropriate methods forjuvenile sex offender to gain some level of control in the family appears to be an integralpart of family therapy.
Metrics
49 File views/ downloads
59 Record Views
Details
- Title
- A preliminary analysis of psychological characteristics, abuse history, and family functioning in male juvenile sex offenders
- Creators
- Stephanie Baumgratz - DU
- Contributors
- Eric D. Johnson (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Counseling and Family Therapy; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 2885; 991014632181004721