Prevalence and nature of child sexual abuse in the Netherlands: Ethnic differences?

In most epidemiological prevalence studies of child sexual abuse, the role of ethnicity remains unclear. This study examined the prevalence and nature of child sexual abuse in four non-Western ethnic minority groups and compared them with a native Dutch group. A sample of 3,426 young adults (aged 18–25) completed a structured, online survey on experiences of child sexual abuse. A total of 42.9% (n = 1,469) participants reported at least one form of child sexual abuse victimization before the age of 18. Surinamese and Turkish respondents’ prevalence rates did not differ from the native Dutch youth. However, the Dutch Antillean respondents reported significantly higher rates of child sexual abuse on specific forms of abuse, whereas the Moroccan respondents reported lower rates compared with their native Dutch peers. With this study, we have more insight into the differences—however small they may be—between ethnic groups and native Dutch youth regarding child sexual abuse.
Keywords: child molestation, ethnic minorities, cross-cultural, quantitative, self-report