Sexual Victimization Across the Lifespan.

Abstract

This special issue, edited by the co-editors of the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma (JAMT) and the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (JCSA) is designed to promote JCSA's expanded scope to include sexual victimization across the lifespan. The 12 articles included in this special issue are in three main areas reflective of this expanded scope of the Journal. The first of these is understanding the significant and persisting negative impacts of childhood sexual abuse into adulthood. The second is understanding the prevalence and impact of different forms of sexual victimization among members of historically understudied groups. The final is on the development of assessment instruments and programs to prevent sexual violence and reduce its impacts. It is hoped that this expanded scope of JCSA on sexual victimization across the lifespan will foster future scholarship that seeks to understand, prevent, and respond to sexual violence in its various forms, as well as greater collaboration among scientists, practitioners, advocates, and policy makers to prevent, respond to, and ultimately eradicate sexual violence.