Child Sexual Abuse Revictimization after Child Protective Services Investigation: A Longitudinal Examination of Economic-Related Risk Factors

Introduction

Roughly 10% of children experience sexual abuse (Pérez-Fuentes et al., 2013) and many sexually abused children are revictimized before reaching adulthood (Feiring et al., 2002), even after official investigation by child protective services (Sinanan, 2011). According to a family systems model of chronic stress (Kiser et al., 2005), living in poverty can impair vital family processes (e.g., communication, parenting), resulting in families’ reduced ability to adaptively reorganize after traumatic events such as child sexual abuse and putting children at risk for subsequent revictimization. The current study investigates this claim by examining associations between economic-related risk factors (i.e., family poverty, neighborhood disorganization) and sexual abuse revictimization.

Methods

Longitudinal data from 688 children (30.50% female; 58.30% white) and families investigated for child sexual abuse were obtained from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Economic-related data were collected at baseline (M_age=8.32) and sexual abuse revictimization data were obtained at three waves over the next six years. Caregivers and caseworkers reported revictimization at each wave, and their reports were summed. Caregivers reported family poverty via utilization of economic supports (i.e., WIC, food stamps, TANF, housing, disability) and their neighborhood’s level of disorganization. Child age, gender, and minority status as well as substantiation of initial CPS investigation were used as covariates.

Results

Structural equation modeling via Mplus was used to test study hypotheses. Eighty-eight children were reported for sexual abuse revictimization at least once. Model fit was good: χ²(4)=4.41, p=.35; CFI=.95; RMSEA=.01; SRMR=.04. Covariates were not related to revictimization. Family poverty (β=.30, p<.01) and neighborhood disorganization (β=.23, p<.05) were related to revictimization. Multiple group analysis was used to examine gender differences. Results revealed that family poverty was linked with revictimization for both girls (β=.29, p<.05) and boys (β=.42, p<.01), but girls (β=.40, p<.001) were significantly at greater risk for revictimization as a result of neighborhood disorganization (∆χ²(1)=41.79, p<.001) compared to boys (β=-.07, p=n.s.).

Conclusion

Sexually abused children are susceptible for sexual abuse revictimization, though little is known about risk factors. The current study confirms previous hypotheses that economic-related factors play a role in revictimization though found that these factors varied by child gender. Policy makers and interventionists can use the current findings for identifying and assisting families that are at increased risk for revictimization after official investigation.