Abstract
A random sample of 465 Norwegian adolescents (mean age 19.3 years) from the general population answered a questionnaire related to sexual victimization. 17.2% of the girls reported being sexually assaulted, 6.8% in childhood and 10.4% during their teens. Only 0.9% of the boys reported such experiences.
Three patterns of victimization were identified:
Prepubertal girls abused by adult men, usually relatives or other trusted superiors. Adolescent girls victimized by their boyfriends, other peers and — to a lesser degree — unknown persons. A small group of girls reporting continual assaults by several offenders.
By the end of their teens, it is assumed that 2.8% of the girls have experienced ‘grave’ and prolonged sexual abuse, which invariably started during childhood. Another 7.6% have experienced ‘serious’ assaults, either in childhood or in adolescence.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.