A Demographic Portrait of Statutory Rape

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A Demographic Portrait of Statutory Rape
Kristin Moore, Ph.D. Jennifer Manlove,
Ph.D March 23-24, 2005
www.childtrends.org www.childtrendsdatabank.org
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Research Questions

• What is the prevalence of statutory rape?
• Has the prevalence of statutory rape been
  increasing over time?
• What individual and family factors are associated
  with statutory rape?
• How do characteristics of statutory rape
  relationships and partners differ from other
  sexual relationships?
• Is statutory rape linked to other adolescent
  behaviors?

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Definition of Statutory Rape

• Teens aged 15 or younger with a sexual partner 3
  or more years older

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Data

• National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), 1995 and
  2002
• Retrospective information on sexual experiences
  before age 18
• Information on teens first sexual experiences
• National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
  (Add Health), 1995-1996
• Teens in grades 7-12
• Information on all sexual relationships

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Question 1

• What is the prevalence of statutory rape?

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Statutory Rape at First Sex Occurs Among Both
Females and Males
Statutory Rape
Statutory Rape
Not Sexually Experienced
Not Sexually Experienced
Sexually Experienced
Sexually Experienced
Females
Males
Source NSFG 2002
7
Statutory Rape Status at First Sex Among Sexually
Experienced Females and Males
Statutory Rape
Statutory Rape
Other Sexually Experienced
Other Sexually Experienced
Females
Males
Source NSFG 2002
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Question 2

• Has the prevalence of statutory rape been
  increasing over time?

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Incidence of Statutory Rape at First Sex Has Not
Changed Significantly Among Females
Source NSFG 2002
10
Incidence of Statutory Rape at First Sex Has
Remained Stable Among Sexually Experienced Females
Source NSFG 2002
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Question 3

• What individual and family factors are associated
  with statutory rape?

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Younger Sexually Experienced Teens Are More
Likely to Experience Statutory Rape
lt 13 14 15
lt 13 14 15
Females
Males
Source NSFG 2002
13
Females Who Are Younger at First Sex Are More
Likely to Say that Sexual Experience Was
Non-Voluntary
Source NSFG 2002
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Average Age Difference Between Teens and Partners
Source NSFG 2002
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Distribution of Partner-Teen Age Difference in
Statutory Rape Relationships, by Gender
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8
7
7
3 years
3 years
6
6
5 years
5 years
4 years
4 years
Males
Females
Source NSFG 2002
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The Incidence of Statutory Rape is Higher Among
Teens

• who do not live with both biological parents

• whose parents have lower educational
• attainment, and

• whose mothers gave birth in their teen years

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Statutory Rape Increases with the Number of
Family Risks
0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3
Females
Males
Family risk factors include low parent
education, family structure other than two
biological parents, and son/daughter of a teen
mother.
Source NSFG 2002
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Racial/Ethnic Minorities Are More Likely to
Experience Statutory Rape
White Black Hispanic
White Black Hispanic
Females
Males
Source NSFG 2002
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Question 4

• How do characteristics of statutory rape
  relationships and partners differ from other
  sexual relationships?

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Teens in Statutory Rape Relationships Are More
Likely to Meet Partner Outside of Social Networks
Source Add Health
21
Statutory Rape Partners of Teen Females Are More
Likely to be Behind Grade than Other Sexual
Partners
Source Add Health
22
Relationship Type with First Sexual Partner-
Females
Engaged/ Cohabiting
Engaged/ Cohabiting
Other
Other
Just Met/ Just Friends
Just Met/ Just Friends
Going Steady
Going Steady
Statutory Rape
Other Sexually Experienced
Source NSFG 2002
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Relationship Type with First Sexual Partner- Males
Engaged/ Cohabiting
Other
Going Steady
Other
Just Met/ Just Friends
Going Steady
Just Met/ Just Friends
Statutory Rape
Other Sexually Experienced
Source NSFG 2002
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Statutory Rape Relationships Differ by Gender
Engaged/ Cohabiting
Other
Just Met/ Just Friends
Going Steady
Females
Source NSFG 2002
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Statutory Rape Relationships Differ by Gender
Engaged/ Cohabiting
Other
Going Steady
Other
Just Met/ Just Friends
Going Steady
Just Met/ Just Friends
Females
Males
Source NSFG 2002
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The Majority of Teens in Statutory Rape and Other
Sexual Relationships Report that Most or All of
Their Friends Know Their Partner
Source Add Health
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Question 5

• Is statutory rape linked to other adolescent
  behaviors?

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High School Females with Statutory Rape
Experiences Report Higher Alcohol and Drug Use
Source Add Health
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Females and Males in Statutory Rape First
Relationships are More Likely to Drop Out of High
School 
Measured as males and females aged 20-24 who
completed less than 12 years of high school and
did not complete a GED.
Source NSFG 2002
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Females and Males in Statutory Rape
Relationships Are Less Likely to Use
Contraception at First Sex
Source NSFG 2002
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High School Teens in Statutory Rape Relationships
Report More Lifetime Sexual Partners
Source Add Health
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Females in Statutory Rape First Relationships Are
More Likely to Have a Teen Birth
Source NSFG 2002
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Females in Statutory Rape First Relationships Are
More Likely to Have Any or 2 Nonmarital Births
Source NSFG 2002
34
Females and Males in Statutory Rape First
Relationships Are More Likely to Have Ever Been
Tested for HIV
Source NSFG 2002
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Females in Statutory Rape First Relationships are
More Likely to Cohabit or Marry at an Early Age
Married
Never Married
Never Married
Married
Separated
Cohabit
Cohabit
Divorced
Divorced
Separated
Statutory Rape
Other Sexually Experienced
Source NSFG 2002
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Males in Statutory Rape First Relationships are
More Likely to Cohabit at an Early Age
Married
Never Married
Never Married
Married
Cohabit
Cohabit
Separated
Divorced
Separated
Statutory Rape
Other Sexually Experienced
Source NSFG 2002
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Conclusions

• Q1. What is the prevalence of statutory rape?
• Statutory rape remains a critical issue,
  affecting 13 of females and 5 of males at first
  sex.
• Q2. Has the prevalence of statutory rape been
  increasing over time?
• There was no significant change in the overall
  incidence of statutory rape among females at
  first sex between 1995 and 2002.

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Conclusions

• Q3. What individual and family factors are
  associated with statutory rape?
• The youngest sexually experienced teens are most
  likely to experience statutory rape at first sex.
  
• Family risks are associated with statutory rape.

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Conclusions

• Q4. How do characteristics of statutory rape
  relationships and partners differ from other
  sexual relationships?
• Teens are more likely to meet statutory rape
  partners outside of their usual social networks.
• Statutory rape partners are more likely to be
  behind in school.
• Statutory rape partners are more likely to be
  casual partners.

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Conclusions

• Q5. Is statutory rape linked to other adolescent
  behaviors?
• Although causality is not determined, statutory
  rape is linked to
• negative health outcomes
• lower educational attainment
• risky sexual behaviors and teen childbearing
• earlier union formation

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