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Dissertation
Defining sexual boundaries between children and adults: a potential new approach to child sexual abuse prevention
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
May 1999
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009075
Abstract
Child sexual abuse is a widespread problem with potential serious psychological and physical sequelae. The majority of the perpetrators of this abuse are known by the victim, and are often a member of the victim's household. Child sexual abuse most commonly occurs as a gradual progression from behaviors that are difficult to distinguish from normal caretaking or expressions of affection, to behaviors that are more physiologically invasive. This study begins to address intrafamilial abuse by surveying the opinions of professionals-child psychologists, child psychiatrists and pediatricians-regarding when selected behaviors, related to nudity, cosleeping and kissing on the lips become inappropriate. An interaction between child and parent gender was found for all investigated behaviors. The age at which behaviors related to nudity and cosleeping were said to become inappropriate was younger for different-gender parent and child than for same-gender parent and child. The opposite was found for kissing. Examination of respondent characteristics found that those professionals who are younger, do not have a psychodynamic orientation, or are from the western states generally respond that the investigated behaviors become inappropriate at later ages than those who do not have these characteristics. In addition, although psychologists and psychiatrists were not found to significantly differ in their responses, pediatricians generally responded with a significantly older age cut-off than did either of the other two professions.
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Details
- Title
- Defining sexual boundaries between children and adults
- Creators
- Rosalie Theresa-Ann DiSimone-Weiss
- Contributors
- Patrick W. McGuffin (Advisor) - Drexel University, Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002)
- Awarding Institution
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xvi, 188 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University (1993-1996, 1998-2002); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1998-2000)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888719904721