Research Article Critique

SW 3810
Ivy Schihl 3/20/2013

Introduction This article explains a quantitative study done in four schools in Hubei, Henane, Hebei, and Beijing provinces of China regarding Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). Based on the information provided, it is thought that little is known about Child Sexual Abuse in Chinese societies. Even though the idea of Child Sexual Abuse is not talked about often in the Chinese society, it does still occur, but at a lower rate than western countries such as the US, Europe, and Australia. This research was done to broaden the knowledge of people in the context of Child Sexual Abuse in Chinese societies because research mainly has been done in western countries. The question of does Child Sexual Abuse happen in Chinese cultures and at what rate will be answered along with what are the common behaviors of children affected by this. Methods The researchers went about conducting this research by conducting a cross-sectional survey of high school students in the provinces of Hubei, Henane, Hebei, and Beijing China. The total of students that participated was from both general secondary schools and a technical secondary school, all of which were either in 11th or 12th grade. According to the article, a total of 3,261 students or key variables, were enrolled and 3,032 students participated in the survey but, 732 questionnaires were excluded from the data analysis because of various reasons. Of the 2,300 students left that completed the questionnaire, 1,155 were female and 1,145 were male. According to the data collected in the article, ninety-six percent of the respondents were 16-19 years old with an average age of 17.2 years old. The questionnaire included twelve questions, one of which including a list of 12 experiences that the participants had to check off if any of the experiences happened before the age of 16 and they did not want them to happen. Some of the

experiences included, exposing their genitals to the respondent, masturbating in front of the respondent, and the touching of their body including breasts or genitals. Cases of Child Sexual Abuse were then defined when a participant answered positively to any of the 12 on the list of experiences that they did not want to happen. Demographics were thought of as a possible factor in the rates of Child Sexual Abuse so questions were asked about the highest level of schooling of the mother and father as well as how big the families were. Based on the information provided, 58.7% of the participants were from a one-child family. Other behavioral questions were included that rated the participants on scale measurements to study the side effects that Child Sexual Abuse has on children. Results Based on the information provided, a total of 313 participants out of the 2,300 reported one or more unwanted sexual experiences before the age of 16. The most common experience found in this study was another person exposing their genitals to a child, and the next most common form was fondling of the body, breasts, or genitals (Chen, Dunne, Han, p.1176). The data collected in the study was presented in the form of tables which showed the percentages of females, males, and the total together for each occurrence of an unwanted sexual experience. Females generally had a higher rate of Child Sexual Experiences occur than males but this is not just common in China. Western countries also have a pattern of females having a much higher rate than males of Child Sexual Experiences and the rates at which they occur. The next data table that was presented included the demographic characteristics by Child Sexual Abuse history. According to the data table provided, Child Sexual Abuse occurs more likely when the father and mothers education level is only at the completion of a senior high school level. As shown in the

data table, the rate of Child Sexual Abuse is higher in single children homes compared to multiple children homes and more occurrences of Child Sexual Abuse occur in city areas compared to rural and county areas. The third data table included results of self-esteem and depression issues of both the male and female participants. Based on the information provided, it is thought that depression is significantly higher among males and females who reported any type of Child Sexual Abuse. The table indicates that Depression also relates to some selfesteem issues that are also greatly higher among those participants that have reported any Child Sexual Abuse. The fourth and fifth data table explains various behaviors and the percentages of those behaviors of participants whove experienced Child Sexual Abuse and those who have not. According to table four, 5.1% of females whove experienced Child Sexual Abuse have smoked within the thirty days prior compared to 1.6% of those females that have smoked but have not had an experience and 88.8% of males that have experiences some type of Child Sexual Abuse smoke. This data shows that smoking is a behavior that is common among children that are sexually abused. The rate of alcohol use was also found to be higher when it came to a difference between males and females affected by Child Sexual Abuse and those who have not been affected. Overall, the results of this study indicated that children affected by sexual abuse have a higher risk of engaging in health-related risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking, anorexic or bulimic behavior, violent behaviors, and more sexual intercourse. According to the study, certain behaviors are noticed more in females than males and vice-versa. These results can help within the field of Social Work because social workers can understand behaviors and help guide people of the Chinese culture in a more positive direction. Discussion

The Chinese culture is very guarded when it comes to sexual practices and attitudes. In the culture, the belief of children and adolescents not engaging in sexual activity stands very strong. The differences between Western countries and China have been proven to be drastically different. As noted in the article, fifty percent of adolescents under the age of 18 in Western countries, will have sexual intercourse before leaving school. This compares to five percent of senior high school students in China having had sexual intercourse younger than the age of 18. One major problem of this article is that it may be biased. Only four schools were part of the sample when there are many other schools in China that could have been questioned. Other types of sampling such as randomized selection could have been used in this research, seeing that convenience sampling was the only type used. Using randomized sampling could have given a broader look at Child Sexual Abuse throughout China rather than in just the four provinces. Questioning even younger groups of students could have been done by the authors to narrow the type of sexual contact to certain ages rather than just stating Child Sexual Abuse had occurred under the age of 16. Reliability and validity could also be a weakness in this type of research. When the authors pass out the questionnaires, there is a chance that some students may not answer truthfully. Some students may not understand some of the questions and may just put an answer down because they are unsure. This can create a problem within the study and the results are then not accurate. The authors did well in addressing cultural issues such as race, age, and economic class. Passing out the questionnaires in four of the Chinese provinces; the understanding that most of the students are of Asian descent is made very clear. The authors of the article narrowed the age group to those of 17 and 18 by only surveying students in grades 11 and 12. The economic class of the students was figured out by the educational level of their parents. Asking questions such as this, gave the authors a better understanding of what types of

households these adolescents were living in. The different tables presented helps the readers understand the difference between male and female and what types of actions or behaviors occur for both. Obtaining the information provided regarding the cultural issues and behaviors is a strength within the study. The tables provide a better understanding for the readers to notice differences in actions and actually see the percentages of several risk behaviors. Ethical issues were not an issue within the study. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject, students anonymously completed the questionnaire and sealed their own envelopes to protect them from confidentiality issues. According to the article, students voluntarily took the questionnaire which did not infringe on their individual rights. The authors have stated some limitations within the article which include the idea of the findings being biased because the study used a convenience sample of just four high schools. As noted in the article, at the present time in China, it is difficult to conduct randomized selection of schools or students across a wide area in studies of sensitive topics such as Child Sexual Abuse (Chen, Dunne, Han p.1182). Other limitations stated by the authors include that there is possible bias from question-wording. The definition of Child Sexual Abuse was defined by the authors as discrete experiences that were unwanted but does not define Child Sexual Abuse as an actual abusive action that was performed. The authors could have given a better definition of Child Sexual Abuse, so the results could have been more accurate. With the definition the authors provided of Child Sexual Abuse, the students could have thought of the behaviors worse than they actually were and wrote down the wrong answers to the questionnaire. The authors could have also surveyed other Eastern countries to compare these results to so they could then make a general statement regarding the rates of Child Sexual Abuse in Western countries compared to Eastern countries. Surveying three countries in the Western hemisphere and comparing them to one country in the Eastern hemisphere does not give

valid results to the readers of the article. By surveying the United States and then using China would have been a better approach to comparing Child Sexual Abuse within countries. Conclusion With the Chinese culture being so quiet about Child Sexual Abuse, research is the only way people will have a better understanding of these issues and be able to make comparisons between countries. The idea of Child Sexual Abuse is noted to be a sensitive subject and with the information given, people can have a better understanding of certain behaviors as well as Social Workers being able to help those that were sexually abused.

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Chen, J., Dunne, M. P., & Han, P. (2004). Child sexual abuse in china: A study of adolescents in four provinces. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(11), 1171-1186. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.07.003