B3315 - Intergeneration transmission of sexual abuse and violence - 20/05/2019

B number: 
B3315
Principal applicant name: 
Kate Walker | Coventry University, Coventry University (UK)
Co-applicants: 
Prof Sarah Brown
Title of project: 
Intergeneration transmission of sexual abuse and violence
Proposal summary: 

Children, particularly daughters, of mothers who have been victims of sexual violence and abuse have a higher risk of becoming victims of sexual violence and abuse, compared to children of mothers who have no such victimisation histories. The majority of studies examining this intergeneration 'transmission' of sexual abuse and violence have been conducted using samples from populations in which there are a high number of victims and outside the UK. Furthermore, studies have tended to focus on the sexual abuse histories of the mother and not the father. This study, using a general population sample (i.e., of people not specifically identified on the basis of being victims of sexual abuse) will enable us to identify the extent to which mothers' sexual abuse experiences increase the risk of similar victimisation in their children. We will also examine the impact of the sexual histories of fathers and what other factors (e.g., other types of abuse experienced by the mother and/or father, parents' mental health, children's early development and conduct disorders) exacerbate or reduce the risk of intergeneration transmission.

Impact of research: 
This research is important to understand in a general UK population study whether the child of parents who have been sexually abuse are at a greater risk of being victims of sexual abuse than children whose parents have not been abused. It will also highlight whether it is the sexual victimisation specifically or other factors that co-occur that increase the risk. This will have important implications for the prevention of sexual abuse, particularly in respect of identifying areas that can be the focus of intervention and support for parents who have experienced sexual abuse, in order that the risk to their children is minimised. If the findings show that the children of sexually abused parents are not at increased risk (i.e., due to the nature of the sample in this study compared to the specific sexual abuse population samples in most other studies), then the findings have significant impact for theory/policy developed on the belief of intergenerational transmission.
Date proposal received: 
Saturday, 18 May, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 20 May, 2019
Keywords: 
Social Science, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Statistical methods, Child sexual abuse Inter-generation transmission Sexual violence and abuse