Washington, May 14 : Most female child abusers have themselves been victims of sexual abuse, says a new study.
The finding, published in the April issue of the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, has the potential to help break the cycle of abuse by improving treatment for offenders and their young victims.
“This study informs us about the pathway to becoming sexually deviant for females,” said study author Susan Strickland, assistant professor in the UGA School of Social Work.
“With that knowledge, we can improve treatment and reduce the likelihood of future sexual assaults on children,” Susan said.
Strickland said the sexual abuse of minors by women has been largely ignored by the general public, the legal system and by academic researchers.