Childhood Sexual Behavior as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Early Sexual Debut: A Prospective Analysis

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a commonly recognized risk factor for early sexual debut. However, relatively few studies are available that examine the potential mediators of this relationship. One promising marker is a preoccupation with sex and sexual topics as one enters the teenage years; however, sexual behavior observed at age 8 might serve as an even earlier risk indicator for early sexual debut. This study used the prospective data of 697 female children to test a serial multiple mediation model where sexual abuse predicts sexualized behavior at age 8, which in turn predicts sexual preoccupation at age 12, and this sequence then forecasts engaging in sexual intercourse at age 14. Given that child physical abuse (CPA) is also commonly linked to the display of childhood sexualized behavior, this variable was included in the models. Path analyses determined that the best-fitting model included sexual behavior as measured at age 8 and sexual preoccupation measured at age 12 in a serial mediator model, which effectively accounted for the relationship between early CPA and CSA and early sexual debut. Contrary to expectations, CPA emerged as an independent predictor of sexual behavior while CSA did not after the effects of CPA were controlled. The implications of these findings for understanding risk for early sexual intercourse are discussed, including treatment/prevention suggestions.