Investigating the effect of child maltreatment on early adolescent peer-on-peer sexual aggression: testing a multiple mediator model in a non-incarcerated sample of Danish adolescents

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between child maltreatment and severe early adolescent peer-on-peer sexual aggression, using a multiple mediator model. The study comprised 330 male Grade 9 students with a mean age of 14.9 years (<i>SD=</i>0.5). Estimates from the mediation model indicated significant indirect effects of child physical abuse on sexual aggression via peer influence and insecure-hostile masculinity. No significant total effect of child sexual abuse and child neglect on sexual aggression was found. Findings of the present study identify risk factors that are potentially changeable and therefore of value in informing the design of prevention programs aiming at early adolescent peer-on-peer sexual aggression in at-risk youth.

本研究旨在采用多重中介模型（multiple mediator model），探究儿童虐待（child maltreatment）与早期青少年严重同伴间性侵犯行为（peer-on-peer sexual aggression）之间的关联。本研究共纳入330名九年级男性学生，平均年龄为14.9岁（标准差SD=0.5）。中介模型的估计结果表明，儿童躯体虐待（child physical abuse）可通过同伴影响与不安全-敌对性男性特质（insecure-hostile masculinity）两条路径，对性侵犯行为产生显著间接效应。本研究未发现儿童性虐待（child sexual abuse）与儿童忽视（child neglect）对性侵犯行为存在显著总效应。本研究结果明确了若干具备潜在可干预性的风险因素，可为针对高危青少年群体（at-risk youth）的早期青少年同伴间性侵犯行为预防项目设计提供有价值的科学依据。