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Early childhood experiences of men sexually abused as children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Russell M.F. Hawkins*
Affiliation:
University of South Australia
Freda Briggs
Affiliation:
University of South Australia
*
School of Psychology, University of South Australia, Magill SA 5072, Telephone: (08) 302 4488; Fax: (08) 302 4723

Abstract

A study which reported information obtained from male child molesters and from the male victims of child abuse has recently been completed. When the results of this study were released, they attracted considerable media attention. Unfortunately the media reports were often inaccurate. The page 1 headline on the South Australian edition of the Australian (Powell, 6/1/95), for example said ‘One in two molesters cites abuse by Catholics’. This is incorrect. Furthermore, the media reports tended to unduly focus on issues to do with abuse by religious authorities and they failed to provide detail about other aspects of the study. In order to correct misinformation spread by the media, we present a short description of the study.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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