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A Meta-analysis Comparing Male Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended Against Intrafamilial Versus Extrafamilial Victims

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Abstract

This meta-analysis examined whether theoretically and clinically relevant differences exist between male adolescents who have sexually offended against intrafamilial victims (AIV) and male adolescents who have sexually offended against extrafamilial victims (AEV). A total of 26 independent samples (8 published and 18 unpublished) that compared a total of 2169 AIV and 2852 AEV were analyzed. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that categorizing male adolescents who commit sexual offenses based on their relationship to victims is a meaningful distinction. We found that AIV presented with greater atypical sexual interests, increased sexual regulation issues, more severe family dysfunction, more extensive childhood maltreatment histories, and greater internalizing psychopathology than AEV. Conversely, AEV presented with more indicators of antisociality than AIV, suggesting that extrafamilial sexual offending might fit better with a generalist explanation of adolescent sexual offending. Findings highlight the value of assessing family dysfunction and maltreatment history, sexual development and regulation, and general delinquency factors to better understand adolescents who have committed a sexual offense.

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Notes

  1. The data received in 2018 from Dr. Van Vugt were later used in a paper comparing AIV to AEV that was published in March 2020 (Van Vugt and Garofalo 2020). However, the variables reported were defined differently than those provided for the meta-analysis. As such, we chose to include the data that were originally provided as they aligned with our Coding Manual.

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  1. Frederica M. Martijn

    Present address: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada

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  1. University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada

    Kelly M. Babchishin & Michael C. Seto

  2. Leiden University, Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

    Frederica M. Martijn

  3. Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada

    Elisabeth J. Leroux

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Martijn, F.M., Leroux, E.J., Babchishin, K.M. et al. A Meta-analysis Comparing Male Adolescents Who Have Sexually Offended Against Intrafamilial Versus Extrafamilial Victims. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 23, 529–552 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-020-00320-6

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