Abstract
This study examines the overlap between sexual offending perpetration and victimization among 1,171 participants (18–40 years) in Hong Kong. Testing the theoretical propositions of several criminological theories (i.e., self-control, general strain, routine activity, and social learning), the participants’ prevalence of general, penetrative, and nonpenetrative sexual offending perpetration and victimization are explored. The findings indicated that sexual offending perpetration and victimization are generally positively correlated, and further tests using multivariate analyses confirmed the relationship between these two experiences. Less than 5% of the sample had both sexual offending perpetration and victimization experience. The results of logistic regression indicated that participants who engaged in sexual offending were 1.67 times more likely to fall prey to sexual victimization. Similar odds ratio (1.67 times) was true for sexual victimization in predicting sexual offending perpetration. A bivariate probit model confirmed the sexual victim–offender overlap, with the Spearman’s rho correlation from the unadjusted model suggesting significant overlap with general sexual offending (79%). Having a high level of risky sexual behavior was found to be a general risk factor for engaging in sexual offending behavior and for falling prey to sexual victimization.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 923-949 |
Number of pages | 27 |
Journal | Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 22 Dec 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Strategic Research Grant (SRG) funded by City University of Hong Kong (CityU 7004958).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
Keywords
- Hong Kong
- nonconsensual sexual contact
- perpetration
- sexual offending
- sexual victimization
- victim–offender overlap
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health