Abuse statistics
Notes
The impact of abuse
In 1999, the McCreary
Adolescent Health Survey II* found that:
- 35% of girls and
16% of boys between grades 7 - 12 had been sexually and/or physically
abused
- Among girls surveyed,
17-year-olds experienced the highest rate of sexual abuse at 20%
In their 2001 report
on Family Violence in Canada**, The Canadian Centre
for Justice Statistics found that children who are exposed to physical
violence in their homes are:
- more than twice
as likely to be physically aggressive as those who have not had such
exposure;
- more likely to
commit delinquent acts against property
- more likely to
display emotional disorders and hyperactivity
University of Victoria's
Sexual Assault Centre*** posts the following childhood
sexual abuse statistics:
- 1 in 3 females
and 1 in 6 males in Canada experience some form of sexual abuse before
the age of 18.
- 80% of all child
abusers are the father, foster father, stepfather or another relative
or close family friend of the victim.
- Incestuous relationships
last 7 years on average
- 75% of mothers
are not aware of the incest in their family
- 60-80% of offenders
in a study of imprisoned rapists had been molested as children
- 80% of prostitutes
and juvenile delinquents, in another study, were sexually abused as
children.
![Return to top](/web/20061105051255im_/http://www.safekidsbc.ca/images/top.gif)
Most common types of abuse
In their 2001 report
on Family Violence in Canada**, The Canadian Centre
for Justice Statistics found that:
- 69% of substantiated
physical abuse involved inappropriate punishment
- 68% of substantiated
sexual abuse involved touching and fondling
- 58% of substantiated
emotional maltreatment involved exposure to family violence
- 48% of substantiated
cases of neglect primarily involved failure to supervise the child properly,
which lead to physical harm
![Return to top](/web/20061105051255im_/http://www.safekidsbc.ca/images/top.gif)
Abusers are commonly known to
the survivor
In their 2001 report
on Family Violence in Canada**, The Canadian Centre
for Justice Statistics found that family
members, including relatives, constituted the vast majority (93%) of alleged
perpetrators. Another
statistical study conducted in 2001 by the Canadian Centre for Justice
Statistics**** found that:
- among family assaults
parents were the perpetrators in 56% of physical assaults against youths
and 43% of sexual assaults against youth victims 12 to 17 years of age;
- siblings were responsible
for approximately 25% of physical and 26% of sexual assaults in the
family that were perpetrated against youth
- extended family
members committed 8% of physical, and 28% of sexual assaults against
youth
![Return to top](/web/20061105051255im_/http://www.safekidsbc.ca/images/top.gif)
A BC snapshot
In a snapshot taken
on April 17, 2000*****, in British Columbia, there
were 689 residents in shelters: 54% were women and 46% were children.
- 82% were women
escaping abusive situations
- of the women escaping
abuse, 32% indicated they were also protecting their children from psychological
abuse, 28% from witnessing abuse of their mother, 13% from threats,
9% from physical abuse, 5% from neglect, and 5% from sexual abuse
![Return to top](/web/20061105051255im_/http://www.safekidsbc.ca/images/top.gif)
Notes
- *McCreary Centre
Society. Healthy Connections: Listening to BC Youth, 1999, p. 17.
- **Family
Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2001, Canadian Centre
for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada, 2001 (Catalogue No. 85-224-XIE)
- ***Child Sexual
Abuse Statistics, compiled by the National Advisory Council of Women,
quoted by University of Victoria's Sexual Assault Centre
- ****Children
and Youth in Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics
Canada, June 2001 (Catalogue no. 85F0033MIE)
- ***** Transition
Home Survey 1999 - 2000, British Columbia Fact Sheet, Statistics
Canada (Catalogue no. 85-404-MIE)
![Return to top](/web/20061105051255im_/http://www.safekidsbc.ca/images/top.gif)
|