Resumen

CAPITAO, Cláudio Garcia  y  ROMARO, Rita Aparecida. Characterization of sexual abuse on children and adolescents. Psicol. Am. Lat. [online]. 2008, n.13. ISSN 1870-350X.

It was our object of investigation the occurrence of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence, as it was remembered posteriorly, characterizing its main forms, by whom it was practiced, in what time of life it occurred. Our sample comprised 463 undergraduate students, 18-year old or above, split in (43%) male and (57%) female genders. The Questionnaire about Incidence of Sexual Abuse was the instrument used, which was applied to groups, but answered individually. Concerning the replies to the questionnaire, (87%) denied the occurrence of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence. Of 57 participants that referred to existence of abuse, (73%) were female and (27%) male gender. The abuse was suffered between 5 and 10 years of age (48%) and between 10 and 15 years of age (36%), inflicted by male gender aggressor (71%), which predominated in both groups. The effects of sexual abuse may develop at any time of life.

Palabras clave : Sexual abuse; Adolescence; Childhood.