Study conducted for the Synodical Committee on Abuse of the Christian Reformed Church by Social Research Center, Calvin College
Number of 21-page questionnaires sent out:
1,104
Number of respondents:
643 (65% return); all were over 20 years of age
Reported having experienced abuse:
- 12% physical abuse
- 13% sexual abuse
- 19% emotional abuse
The combined abuse prevalence indicated that 28% of CRC respondents experienced at least one of the three forms considered in the survey.
Forty percent of sexual, 31% of physical and 22% of emotional abuse experiences were not shared with anyone by the victims.
The percentage of abusers who were male:
- 96% of sexual abusers
- 70% of physical abusers
- 55% of emotional abusers
The majority of physical and emotional abusers were family members; this is NOT true of reported sexual abusers.
- More women than men reported abuse. Reported cases by gender indicated women victims accounted for 85% of sexual, 78% of emotional and 77% of physical abuse.
- Those physically disabled reported abuse at double, even triple the rate of others.
- Currently divorced and separated persons reported highest incidents, followed by those who never married.
- Most abuse began before the victim’s teen years and ended before age twenty. Fifty-six percent of sexual abuse victims reported more than one incidence.
- Persons with higher levels of education reported more prevalent abuse than those with less education.
- Victims now residents of larger cities (750,000+) reported abuse at higher rates, although the majority of abusers was found to live in cities of 50,000 to 149,000.
- Of six geographic areas studied, Western Canada showed the highest abuse rate, followed closely by Southern and Eastern U.S.
- Persons newer in CRC church membership (less than 10 years) and those who attend worship less frequently experienced abuse at higher rates. Among abusers, those who came from outside the CRC were twice as likely to victimize as those who have been lifelong members.
Although not shown in Table 18, gender of abused persons reporting their experiences is reported here. Not unexpectedly, the majority of abused persons are females. We reported in Section III that abuse prevalence rates are higher for females than males. Of those sexually abused, 86% are female and 14% male. The percentage of emotionally and physically abused persons who are female is 78% and 77% respectively.
TABLE 18
Selected Features of Abuse Experiences Reported by Persons Abused: by Type of Abuse
FEATURES |
PHYSICAL ABUSE & NEGLECT |
SEXUAL ABUSE |
EMOTIONAL ABUSE |
|
Number of respondents reporting abuse experiences |
78 |
84 |
119 |
|
Number of abuse experiences reported |
100 |
112 |
171 |
|
Ratio of coded experiences to respondents reporting abuse |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.4 |
|
Median age of abused person: |
|
|
|
When abuse began |
12 years |
12 years |
12 years |
When abuse ended |
16 years |
13 years |
19 years |
|
Relationship of abused person to abuser |
|
|
|
Family related |
84% |
36 % |
70% |
Church related |
1 |
4 |
4 |
|
Gender of abuser |
|
|
|
Male |
70% |
96% |
55% |
Female |
29% |
2% |
38% |
Both |
1% |
2% |
6% |
|
Median age of abuser: |
|
|
|
When abuse began |
30 years |
25 years |
30 years |
When abuse ended |
37 years |
25 years |
40 years |
|
Frequency of abuse: |
|
|
|
Once |
11% |
44% |
4% |
A few times |
33% |
32% |
18% |
Many times |
55 % |
24% |
78% |
|
Time lapse since abuse ended |
|
|
|
Median number or years |
20 yrs. |
25 yrs. |
30 yrs. |
Within last 10 years |
26% |
15% |
48% |
Within last 20 years |
55% |
48% |
76% |
|
Ever tell about the abuse? |
|
|
|
Yes |
67% |
57% |
77% |
No |
31% |
40% |
22% |
|
Persons told about the abuse |
|
|
|
Family member |
97& |
87% |
89% |
Friend |
45% |
37% |
52% |
Church official |
14% |
16% |
19% |
Therapist |
23% |
24% |
34% |
Police/law |
3% |
6% |
3% |
