Focusing on actual behaviors that occurred during sexual abuse, the present study hypothesized that variations in offending behavior distinctively affect victims of child sexual abuse. Based on the previous literature, a two-way behavioral thematic structure in child sexual abuse is suggested, namely Coercion and Involvement. Differences in offending behavior are expected to distinctively affect victims’ symptoms (e.g., PTSD-type symptoms, behavioral problems, self-esteem, sexualized behavior). Finally, moderating variables affecting victims’ symptoms, such as victim’s age at the time of offense and abuser-victim relationships, are explored.
