The Decline of Child Sexual Abuse in Canada: Evidence From the 2014 General Social Survey

Abstract

Objective: To provide evidence of trends in child sexual abuse (CSA) in Canada. Methods: Using data from 15,801 males and 18,669 females who responded to the 2014 General Social Survey (GSS), we compared the prevalence of CSA by age cohorts. Age cohort patterns were examined for several sub-populations including males, females, Indigenous peoples, and people living in low-income households. Results: After an increase in the post-World War II period, there has been a decline in CSA in Canada since the early 1990s. Findings indicate a decline for both sexes; although, the evidence is more compelling for females. There is also evidence of a decline for Indigenous peoples, for those living in low-income households, and regardless of the relationship to the perpetrator (i.e., family member, a teacher/professor/tutor, a babysitter, a nanny, other non-family member but known to the respondent, or a stranger). Conclusions: In Canada, evidence from 3 retrospective population surveys suggests a decline in CSA since the early 1990s. However, given the associated harm, continued progress to the eradication of CSA is essential.

Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among individuals aged 45 to 85 years: a cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

“…5,25,26 Similarly, results from the Canadian component of the GENACIS project (Gender, alcohol and culture: an international study) showed that child sexual abuse rates declined after 1993 but were significantly higher between 1946 and 1992 compared with the period before 1946. 26,27 The reasons for higher reporting of ACEs among the 1950-1969 birth cohort in our study is unclear, but examining the trauma and disruptions after World War II may help to explain these time trends. 26 It is also possible that the reporting of ACEs may be affected by secular trends.…”

“…26 Younger individuals may be more likely to acknowledge and report maltreatment as an effect of increased media coverage, whereas lower reporting among older individuals may be because of their reluctance to disclose experiences, which may be viewed as stigmatizing during the period in which they were born. [25][26][27][28] In addition, prevalence in the oldest age group may be influenced by premature mortality experienced by individuals exposed to ACEs. 29 Our findings showed that exposure to ACEs varied across Canadian provinces.…”

“… 5 , 25 , 26 Similarly, results from the Canadian component of the GENACIS project (Gender, alcohol and culture: an international study) showed that child sexual abuse rates declined after 1993 but were significantly higher between 1946 and 1992 compared with the period before 1946. 26 , 27 …”

Concerns about Household Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Pre-pandemic nationally representative trend data on household violence in Canada are limited. Studies using national survey data have found evidence of a decline in childhood sexual abuse since 1990 [ 17 , 18 ] and a decrease in childhood physical abuse among those born between 1980 and 1999 (birth cohort) [ 19 ]. Statistics Canada, Canada’s national statistics agency, has also found a decline in self-reported spousal violence since 2004 [ 20 ].…”

The Juxtaposition of the Child as a Witness and a Victim: An Analysis of Legal Policy Affecting Young Witnesses in Canada

“…The dependency on this kind of data relies on the assumption that all instances of sexual abuse is reported. Aside from the alarming reality that these statistics are not accessible to estimate how prevalent an issue CSA in Canada is, the existing national data is less than optimal (Shields et al, 2019). What the limited and most recent literature suggests is that child sexual abuse prevalence has decreased between the years 1945 earlier to present.…”