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A Demographic Portrait of Statutory Rape

Kristin Moore, Ph.D. & Jennifer Manlove, Ph.D

March 23-24, 2005

Research Questions

1. What is the prevalence of statutory rape?

2. Has the prevalence of statutory rape been increasing over time?

3. What individual and family factors are associated with statutory rape?

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

5. Is statutory rape linked to other adolescent behaviors?

Definition of Statutory Rape

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

Data• National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), 1995

and 2002o Retrospective information on sexual experiences before

age 18o Information on teens’ first sexual experiences

• National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), 1995-1996o Teens in grades 7-12o Information on all sexual relationships

Question #1:

What is the prevalence of statutory rape?

Statutory Rape at First Sex Occurs Among Both Females and Males

49%

5%

46% 52%

13%

35%

Females Males

Source: NSFG 2002

Not SexuallyExperienced Not Sexually

Experienced

Statutory Rape

Statutory Rape

SexuallyExperienced

SexuallyExperienced

Statutory Rape Status at First Sex Among Sexually Experienced Females and Males

26%

74%

9%

91%

StatutoryRape

StatutoryRape

Other Sexually Experienced

Other SexuallyExperienced

Females Males

Source: NSFG 2002

Question #2:

Has the prevalence of statutory rape been increasing over time?

Incidence of Statutory Rape at First Sex Has Not Changed Significantly Among Females

Source: NSFG 2002

14%13%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

1995 2002

Incidence of Statutory Rape at First Sex Has Remained Stable Among Sexually

Experienced Females

26% 26%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

1995 2002

Source: NSFG 2002

Question #3:

What individual and family factors are associated with statutory rape?

Younger Sexually Experienced Teens Are More Likely to Experience Statutory Rape

65%

53%

16%

41%

12%

27%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Source: NSFG 2002

< 13 14 15 < 13 14 15

Females Males

Females Who Are Younger at First Sex Are More Likely to Say that Sexual Experience

Was Non-Voluntary

18%

10%

5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

< 14 years 15-16 years 17-19 years

Source: NSFG 2002

Average Age Difference Between Teens and Partners

Source: NSFG 2002

5.15.4

1.5

0.5

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Females Males

Age

Dif

fere

nce

in Y

ears

Statutory Rape Other Sexually Experienced

Distribution of Partner-Teen Age Difference in Statutory Rape Relationships, by Gender

37%

26%

12%

6%

5%

14%

34%

15%22%

12%

3%

14%

3 years 3 years

4 years4 years

5 years

5 years

6 6

7 78+ 8+

Females Males

Source: NSFG 2002

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

Statutory Rape Increases with the Number of Family Risks*

7%

2%

5%

8%

23%

9%

12%

20%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Source: NSFG 2002

*Family risk factors include low parent education, family structure other than two biological parents, and son/daughter of a teen mother.

0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3

Females Males

Racial/Ethnic Minorities Are More Likely to Experience Statutory Rape

11%

3%

16%

8%

17%

10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Source: NSFG 2002

White Black Hispanic White Black Hispanic

Females Males

Question #4:

How do characteristics of statutory rape relationships and partners

differ from other sexual relationships?

Teens in Statutory Rape Relationships Are More Likely to Meet Partner Outside of

Social Networks

49%

42%

36% 34%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Female Male

% met partner outside of school, neighborhood, place of worship, or friends


Source: Add Health

Statutory Rape Partners of Teen Females Are More Likely to be Behind Grade than Other

Sexual Partners

37%

26%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Statutory Rape Other SexuallyExperienced

Source: Add Health

Relationship Type with First Sexual Partner- Females

9%

29%58%

4% 5%

76%

18%

1%

Going Steady

Engaged/Cohabiting

Just Met/Just Friends

Other

Going Steady

Engaged/CohabitingOther



Source: NSFG 2002

Relationship Type with First Sexual Partner- Males

16%

67%

17%

2%

43% 55%

1%Going Steady


Other


Going Steady

Other


Engaged/Cohabiting

Source: NSFG 2002

Statutory Rape Relationships Differ by Gender

9%

29%

58%

4%



Going Steady

Source: NSFG 2002

Females

Statutory Rape Relationships Differ by Gender

9%

29%

58%

4%



Going Steady

Source: NSFG 2002

Females

16%

67%

17%


Going SteadyOther

Males

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

53%59%58% 56%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Females Males


Question #5:

Is statutory rape linked to other adolescent behaviors?

High School Females with Statutory Rape Experiences Report Higher Alcohol and Drug Use

70%

34%

63%

27%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Recent Alcohol Use Recent Drug Use


Source: Add Health

Females and Males in Statutory Rape First Relationships

are More Likely to Drop Out of High School*

29%

40%

14% 16%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Females Males


Source: NSFG 2002

*Measured as males and females aged 20-24 who completed less than 12 years of high school and did not complete a GED.

Females and Males in Statutory Rape Relationships Are Less Likely to Use

Contraception at First Sex

Source: NSFG 2002

65% 68%74%

79%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Females Males


High School Teens in Statutory Rape Relationships Report More Lifetime

Sexual Partners

2.8

3.7

2.1 2.2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Females Males

Nu

mb

er o

f S

exu

al P

artn

ers


Source: Add Health

Females in Statutory Rape First Relationships Are More Likely to Have a Teen Birth

44%

26%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Statutory Rape Other SexuallyExperienced

Source: NSFG 2002

Females in Statutory Rape First Relationships Are More Likely to Have Any or 2+ Nonmarital Births

49%

20%

31%

9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Nonmarital Birth 2 or More Nonmarital Births


Source: NSFG 2002

Females and Males in Statutory Rape First Relationships Are More Likely to Have Ever

Been Tested for HIV

74% 71%63%

48%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Females Males


Source: NSFG 2002

Females in Statutory Rape First Relationships are More Likely to Cohabit or Marry at an Early Age

2%

3%

37%28%

30%

Source: NSFG 2002

Married

Cohabit

Separated

Divorced

NeverMarried

Statutory Rape

2%2%

52%

24%

20%

MarriedNeverMarried

Separated Divorced

Cohabit


Males in Statutory Rape First Relationships are More Likely to Cohabit at an Early Age

1%2%

58%

13%

26%

Source: NSFG 2002

Married

Cohabit

DivorcedSeparated

NeverMarried

Statutory Rape

2%

65%

15%

18%

NeverMarried

Married

Cohabit


Separated

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.

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.

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.

ConclusionsQ5. 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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www.childtrends.org a demographic portrait of statutory rape kristin moore, ph.d. & jennifer...

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