Abstract

TUYA ESPINOZA, Gabriela Isabel. Sexual abuse of children and adolescents in Lima, Peru: an overview of personality patterns, socio-demographic characteristics and perpetrators’ risk of violence. Rev. Crim. [online]. 2023, vol.65, n.1, pp.151-169.  Epub June 19, 2023. ISSN 1794-3108.  https://doi.org/10.47741/17943108.407.

The risk of sexual abuse against children and adolescents is a widespread public health and human rights problem facing all countries. This study aims to determine whether socio-demographic characteristics, risk of violence and personality patterns of the perpetrator could predict future episodes of child sexual abuse. A descriptive cross-sectional-correlational study was conducted in 32 persons deprived of liberty (PPL) in a penitentiary establishment in Lima, Peru. The Sociodemographic Form, the Millon’s Multiaxial Clinical Inventory II and the Violence Risk Assessment Guide were used. Participants had an average age of 41.5 ± 8.50 years; most were in a relationship: cohabiting (31.3%) and married (21.9%); and had completed secondary school (56.3%). The predominant personality disorders were dependent (56.3%) and compulsive (84.4%). Seventy-nine per cent were at moderate risk of future violence. There are moderate and strong correlations between the study variables; and multivariate logistic regression revealed that age and some personality disorders could be predictors of child sexual abuse risk. These findings are useful for criminal profiling of future offenders or repeat offenders; and contribute to the design of prevention and treatment programmes.

Keywords : Sexual crime; personality; Socio-demographic characteristics; perpetrators; risk of violence.

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