Childhood experience of sexual abuse among Hong Kong Chinese college students

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the prevalence rate and profiles of abusers and victims of child sexual abuse in a Chinese society.

Method: A convenience sample of 2147 Hong Kong Chinese college students completed questionnaires which included items on definitions of child sexual abuse, recall of sexual abuse experience before age 17, information about the sexual abuse incidents, and personal demographics.

Results: The overall prevalence rate for various forms of child sexual abuse was 6%, with the rates being higher for females than for males. The average age of the victims at the time of the sexual abuse was 11 years old, with a majority of them experiencing sexual abuse during their teenage years. The average age of the abusers as estimated by the victims was 24 years old, and only 28% of the abusers were strangers to the victims. Males were about three times more likely than females to be sexually abused by their friends, whereas females were about twice more likely than males to be sexually abused by strangers. Only 39% of the victims reported their sexual victimization to others, and 56% of the reported incidents were not followed up.

Conclusions: As compared to Western studies, the present study showed lower rates for more intimate or severe forms of child sexual abuse. The Chinese victims were more reluctant to disclose their sexual victimization than their Western counterparts. Limitations and practical implications of the study are also discussed.

Résumé

Objectifs: Cette étude a eu pour but d’explorer le taux prévalence et les profils des agresseurs et des victimes dans une société chinoise.

Méthode: Un échantillon de 2147 étudiants chinois du niveau du collège à Hong Kong ont rempli un questionnaire portant sur des définitions de sévices sexuels envers les enfants, des souvenirs d’expériences de sévices sexuels avant l’âge de 17 ans, une information sur les incidents de sévices sexuels, et des éléments démographiques personnels.

Résultats: Le taux de prévalence général pour des formes variées de sévices sexuels dans l’enfance était de 6%, supérieur chez les femmes par rapport aux hommes. L’âge moyen des victimes à ce moment était de 11 ans, avec une majorité faisant cette expérience durant l’adolescence. L’âge des agresseurs, évalué par les victimes, était voisin de 24 ans, et seulement 28% des agresseurs étaient étrangers aux victimes. Les garçons étaient trois fois plus susceptibles que les filles d’être agressés sexuellement par leurs amis alors que les filles avaient deux fois plus de chances que les garçons d’être agressées par des étrangers. Seulement 39% des victimes ont signalé l’agression et 56% des incidents signalés sont restés sans suite.

Conclusions: Si on la compare à des études occidentales, cette étude a montré des taux inférieurs pour les formes les plus intimes et les plus graves d’agressions sexuelles envers des enfants. Les victimes chinoises se sont montrées moins disposées à révéler l’agression subie que les victimes occidentales homologues. Les limites et les implications pratiques de cette étude sont discutées également.

Resumen

Objetivos: Este estudio tiene como objetivo explorar las tasas de prevalencia y los perfiles de los abusadores y las vı́ctimas de abuso sexual infantil en la sociedad china.

Método: Una muestra de conveniencia formada por 2147 estudiantes universitarios de Hong Kong completó cuestionarios que incluı́an preguntas sobre las definiciones de abuso sexual infantil, el recuerdo de experiencias de abuso sexual ocurridas antes de los 17 años, información sobre incidentes de abuso sexual y datos demográficos personales.

Resultados: La prevalencia total para varias formas de abuso sexual infantil fue del 6%, siendo las tasas más elevadas para las mujeres que para los varones. La media de edad de las vı́ctimas en el momento del abuso sexual fue de 11 años, con una mayorı́a de ellos experimentando el abuso sexual durante la adolescencia. Según la estimación de las vı́ctimas, la media de edad de los agresores era de 24 años y sólo el 28% de ellos eran personas no conocidas por las vı́ctimas. Las mujeres fueron abusadas de manera más frecuente por sus amigos y los varones fueron abusados de manera más frecuente por desconocidos. Sólo el 39% de las vı́ctimas notificaron el abuso sexual a otras personas y únicamente el 56% de las notificaciones tuvo un seguimiento.

Conclusións: En comparación con los estudios realizados en paı́ses occidentales, la presente investigación señaló unas tasas más bajas para las formas más severas de abuso sexual. Las vı́ctimas chinas parecen menos proclives a la revelación del abuso sexual que las vı́ctimas occidentales. Se discuten también las limitaciones y las implicaciones prácticas de este estudio.

Introduction

Sexual violence against children exists across cultural and societal boundaries Finkelhor and Dziuba-Leatherman 1994, Okamura et al 1995. However, variations in the norms around the issues of childrearing, child discipline, family structure, and sexuality may affect the prevalence, form, definition, characteristics, and impact of child sexual abuse across cultures and societies Finkelhor 1986, Rao et al 1992, Okamura et al 1995. Although child sexual abuse has received substantial attention and research in the Western countries for the past decades, this problem has been relatively unexplored within Chinese societies as in Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and Singapore. According to the legal and social service systems in Hong Kong, child sexual abuse is defined as “the involvement of a child in sexual activity to which the child is unable to give informed consent” (Hong Kong Social Welfare Department, 1998). This broad definition of child sexual abuse is adopted throughout this article.

There are aspects of Chinese cultural traditions and moral principles that may be conducive to child sexual abuse Ho and Kwok 1991, Rhind et al 1999, Tang et al 1999. First, the ethic of xiao (hsiao), or filial piety, prescribes that children should always obey the commands of their parents without asking questions and should respect their parents at all times. The underlying principle of this ethic is that children are properties of their parents; thus, they can be dealt with by their parents with little or no interference from others. Chinese parents often adopt childrearing practices such as the inducement of both physical and emotional closeness to foster a lifelong parent-child bonding, and the maintenance of parental authority and children’s obedience through strict discipline to train their children’s filiality Ho 1996, Tang 1998, Wu 1996. Secondly, the suppression of sexuality in traditional Chinese culture (Goodwin & Tang, 1996) also makes it difficult for Chinese children to talk about sexual matters and articulate their sexual victimization experiences (Tang & Lee, 1999). Thirdly, there is also much pressure within Chinese families to protect the family from shame; therefore, the victims and family members of child sexual abuse are often reluctant to report or support the victims Ho and Kwok 1991, Okamura et al 1995, Rhind et al 1999. Remnants of these Chinese traditions and practices are still evident in Chinese societies, despite many of these societies being exposed to Western ideas and values Okamura et al 1995, Tang et al 1999.

On the other hand, there are also positive aspects of Chinese traditions that may act as protective factors to child sexual abuse. Chinese interpersonal relations, beginning with the family, are governed by moral and ethical codes of loyalty, obligation, and reciprocity Goodwin and Tang 1996, Gabrenya and Hwang 1996, Okamura et al 1995. The five “cardinal relations” of wu lun prescribes clearly the power, responsibilities, and roles between emperor and ministers, father and son, spouse and spouse, among brothers, and among friends. Chinese have been socialized to conform or adhere to these role expectations, with strict social sanction for their violation. Thus, Chinese generally avoid or minimize inappropriate interpersonal behaviors, including sexual behaviors. Furthermore, the family plays a central organizing role for Chinese. It is the reference group that provides the individual’s source of identity, security, and support as well as reinforces strong interdependent bonds that promote a sense of solidarity among family members. In times of hardship, such as poverty or misfortune like sexual victimization, family members will render unyielding support to each other.

Available literature on child sexual abuse in the Chinese societies is sparse, and this article focuses on the situations in Hong Kong. The incidents of child sexual abuse in Hong Kong have been increasing at an alarming rate. Tang and Davis (1996) conducted a study of 457 cases of child abuse on the official centralized Child Protection Registry in Hong Kong, and found an increase in child sexual abuse from 4% in 1979 to 18% in 1995. According to the statistics reported in the 1997 Child Protection Registry (Hong Kong Social Welfare Department, 1997), child sexual abuse constituted 38% of all newly registered child abuse cases in that year. About 58% of the clients serviced by the local family centers also reported experiencing various forms of sexual abuse during childhood (Caritas Family Service, 1996). However, it must be noted that these increases might result from both a real increase in the incidents of child sexual abuse, as well as an increase in the recognition and level of reporting.

The above sources of data also showed that Chinese teenagers in Hong Kong were the most vulnerable to child sexual abuse when compared to children of other age groups, and a great majority of the victims were females. In addition, child sexual abuse was still a taboo topic and most victims did not disclose their abuse experiences to others Ho and Kwok 1991, Ho and Mak 1992, Rhind et al 1999. However, these studies were equivocal regarding whether the abusers were mainly parents, family members, or strangers to the sexually abused children.

The present study aims to explore the prevalence rate and the profiles of abusers and victims of child sexual abuse in a community sample in Hong Kong. Ideally, a randomized representative sample should be recruited and interviewed. However, because this is the first large-scale study in a Chinese society on a very sensitive topic, a college sample was used, since both local and Western researchers have suggested that college students tend to be more open and willing to participate in research on sexual matters as well as being subject to less temporal or recall bias for childhood experiences Finkelhor et al 1989, Tang et al 1996.