The prevalence, nature, and impact of intrafamilial child sexual abuse: findings from a rapid evidence assessment
| Pages | 231-243 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-05-2016-0008 |
| Date | 05 December 2016 |
| Published date | 05 December 2016 |
| Author | Anna Gekoski,Julia C. Davidson,Miranda A.H. Horvath |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
The prevalence, nature, and impact of
intrafamilial child sexual abuse: findings
from a rapid evidence assessment
Anna Gekoski, Julia C. Davidson and Miranda A.H. Horvath
Anna Gekoski is based at
Forensic Psychological
Services (FPS), Middlesex
University, London, UK.
Julia C. Davidson is based at
the Centre for Abuse and
Trauma Studies, Middlesex
University, London, UK.
Miranda A.H. Horvath is based
at Forensic Psychological
Services (FPS), Middlesex
University, London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings from a study commissioned bythe Office of
the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) in England, concerning intrafamilial child sexual abuse (IFCSA)/incest.
Specifically, it aims to explore what is known about the prevalence, nature, and impact of IFCSA and where
the gaps in knowledge lie.
Design/methodology/approach –A rapid evidence assessment (REA) was used, the function of which is
to: search the literature as comprehensively as possible within given time constraints; collate descriptive
outlines of the available evidence on a topic and critically appraise it; sift out studies of poor quality; and
provide an overview of the evidence. Over 57,000 documents were scanned, and 296 ultimately
systematically analysed.
Findings –It was found that: there is wide variation in prevalence rates between studies; girls are more
likely to be victims than b oys; the onset of abuse is typically sch ool age; abuse in minority groups is und er-
reported; sibling abuse may be more common than that by fathers; female perpetrated abuse may be
under-reported; families where abuse occurs are often dysfunctional; and IFCSA has significant adverse
effects on victims.
Research limitations/implications –A REA is not a full systematic review, differing in the scope and depth
of the searches and depending almost exclusively on electronic databases, not accompanied by searching
journals by hand.
Practical implications –This work found numerous gaps in current knowledge about IFCSA, which the
authors recommend be addressed by further research, including: the scale and nature of IFCSA in disabled
victims, research on BME children’s experiences; the prevalence of abuse by stepfathers as compared to
biological fathers; the experiences of male victims; the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgendered child victims; the short-term impact of IFCSA based on child victims’experiences; and more
widely, further research on the prevalence of abuse in clinical populations and the relationship between that
and prevalence in wider society. In addition to such questions, the OCC inquiry will also investigate issues
surrounding child protection and criminal justice responses to (IF)CSA and how these might be improved.
The evidence base for this section of the inquiry is reported in Gekoski et al. (2016).
Originality/value –The findings of this research provide the evidence base for a new two-year inquiry into
the subject of IFCSA by the OCC.
Keywords Offenders, Victims, Child sexual abuse, Incest, Intrafamilial, Prevalence
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Over the past few years in the UK, the convictions of “celebrities”for child sexual abuse (CSA) –
including rock star Gary Glitter, entertainer Rolf Harris, and DJ Dave Lee Travis –have dominated
headlines in the media. However, essentially absent from the public narrative, remaining a largely
Received 23 May 2016
Revised 7 July 2016
Accepted 8 July 2016
The authors are grateful to the
Office of the Children’s
Commissioner for England, who
funded the Rapid Evidence
Assessment (REA) on which this
paper is based. The authors would
also like to thank colleagues Julie
Grove-Hills and Clare Choak for
their hard work on the REA, and
Antonia Bilfulco and Julie Grove-
Hills for their work on previous
research on police practice with
victims of child sexual abuse,
which this work draws on.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-05-2016-0008 VOL. 2 NO. 4 2016, pp.231-243, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
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