Solo Versus Co-Perpetrators in the Context of Female-Perpetrated Child Sexual Abuse - Findings from an Online Survey on Affected Individuals.

Abstract

Female-perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major social taboo that often results in individuals facing challenges in disclosing their experiences and accessing appropriate support services. The present study aims to identify the differences between CSA by female solo perpetrators and CSA by female co-perpetrators. We analyzed data from an anonymous online survey involving individuals who reported their experiences of female-perpetrated CSA. A total of 186 participants were divided into those who had been abused by solo perpetrators (n = 88) and those who had experienced CSA by female co-perpetrators (n = 98). We compared their experiences across various characteristics. Our findings suggest that those affected by CSA by female co-perpetrators report abuse that had an earlier onset, was more severe, and lasted longer than the experiences reported by those affected by CSA by female solo perpetrators. The reports further indicate that CSA by female co-perpetrators is more likely to be committed by unknown perpetrators and occurs more frequently in religious institutions than CSA by female solo perpetrators. These findings highlight a need to raise awareness about different forms of female-perpetrated CSA.