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https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605251318280
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
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DOI: 10.1177/08862605251318280
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Original Research
When Victims Become
Abusers: A Study
Among the Male
Victims of Child Sexual
Abuse in Bangladesh
Md. Abu Bakkar Siddik1,2* ,
Md. Rajwanullha Shakil3* , Monia Manjur4,
Md. Ishtiaq Ahmed Talukder5,
Md. Bashir Uddin Khan5,
and Muhammad Asadullah6
Abstract
There are substantial mental health consequences for male child sexual
abuse (MCSA) victims. Survivors may exhibit sexually offensive actions
because of this trauma. In other words, the abused becomes an abuser. In
Bangladesh, MCSA is an invisible social problem. This study aimed to assess
sexually offensive behaviors among victims of MCSA and to determine the
associated factors. A total of 540 victims participated in an online survey
as part of a cross-sectional study. Data were collected on victimization,
suicidal ideation, history of offense, and sociodemographic factors. Pearson
chi-square test and a binary logistic regression were employed to assess
1Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
2The Center for Social Policy and Justice, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh
4Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh
5Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh
6University of Regina, Saskatchewan, SK, Canada
*These authors contributed equally to this work.
Corresponding Author:
Muhammad Asadullah, Department of Justice Studies, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana
Pkwy, Regina, SK S4S0A2, Canada.
Email: Muhammad.Asadullah@uregina.ca
1318280JIVXXX10.1177/08862605251318280Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceSiddik et al.
research-article2025
2 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
significant factors. Results revealed that 63.2% of participants reported
engaging in sexually offensive behavior. Those living in villages, unmarried,
experienced repetitive sexual abuse, under 13 years old at the time of abuse,
experienced physical abuse concurrently, being penetrated during abuse, not
disclosing the abuse, not receiving psychological assistance, having significant
sexual involvement with men, and experiencing suicidal ideation were more
likely to exhibit sexually offensive behaviors. The study underscores the
importance of policymakers implementing relevant policies to safeguard
boys. In addition, it emphasizes the need for victims to disclose instances of
sexual abuse and actively seek psychological intervention.
Keywords
child sexual abuse, male survivors, sexually offensive behaviors, suicidal
ideation, repetitive abuse
Introduction
Sexual abuse broadly refers to any unwanted sexual act, including noncontact
offenses like exhibitionism or voyeurism, contact offenses such as unwanted
kissing or intercourse, and exploitation for gain, such as taking nonconsen-
sual nude photos or coercing someone into sexual activities. The global con-
sciousness surrounding the alarming potential for children to fall victim to
sexual predators has undeniably reshaped familial dynamics and societal atti-
tudes. Often, perpetrators of such heinous acts are identified as male adults or
adolescents who maintain proximity to the child, often within the same
household (Långström et al., 2000; Ryan & Otonichar, 2016). It was esti-
mated that the prevalence rates of child sexual abuse (CSA) for females var-
ied anywhere from 8% to 31%, while the prevalence rates for boys ranged
anywhere from 3% to 17% (Barth et al., 2013). Children who were victims of
nonsexual abuse, sexual abuse without physical contact, sexual abuse with-
out penetration, and sexual abuse with physical contact were all studied in the
same large population research. Severe sexual abuse was linked to adult psy-
chopathology and socioeconomic consequences (Alanko et al., 2017). Many
negative health and social effects, such as self-harm, mental illnesses, and
even physical health diagnoses like HIV and obesity, have been linked to
sexual abuse in children (Amado et al., 2015; Arriola et al., 2005; Chen et al.,
2010; Danese & Tan, 2013; Jespersen et al., 2009).
The most mentioned risk factors for individuals who become abusers later
in life are being male and having experienced sexual abuse during childhood.
Siddik et al. 3
Many professionals who work with children who have been sexually abused
believe that individuals who perpetrate abuse were often victims of abuse
themselves during childhood (Drury et al., 2019; Gekoski et al., 2016;
Långström et al., 2000; Santhosh, 2016).
A longitudinal study conducted on males who experienced sexual abuse
revealed that out of a total of 224 individuals, 26 were identified as victim
abusers, having subsequently engaged in sexual offenses (Salter et al., 2003).
Research by Levenson et al. (2014a) indicated that sex offenders were more
than three times as likely to have experienced CSA as men from the general
community. Another study examining female sex offenders found that
approximately 50% of them reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse, a
rate significantly higher than that observed in the general population. Half of
the sexual offenders had a childhood sexual abuse history (Levenson et al.,
2014a). Furthermore, an additional study revealed that individuals who
engage in CSA reported a higher frequency of past experiences involving
CSA (Simons et al., 2008). In addition, it has been noted by researchers that
childhood sexual abuse is identified as a distinct developmental risk indicator
for engaging in sexual abuse against children (Lee et al., 2002).
Numerous scholars have put forth the proposition that there exists a dis-
tinct correlation between the occurrence of childhood sexual abuse and the
`engagement in sexual offenses during adulthood, commonly referred to as
the sexually abused–sexual abuser hypothesis (Seto, 2008; Ward et al., 2008).
Forensic examinations of adult and juvenile sex and non-sex offender sam-
ples provide the most compelling evidence for the sexually abused-abuser
theory. According to two major meta-analyses, the incidence of sexual abuse
among sex offenders is 3.4 and 2.8 times greater among sex offenders than
non-sex offenders (Jespersen et al., 2009; Seto & Lalumière, 2010).
The main theme of this hypothesis is that most of the CSAs had a previous
history of childhood sexual abuse (Carpentier & Proulx, 2011; Dennison &
Leclerc, 2011). Several studies have researched the “sexually abused abuser
hypothesis” using population-based samples. Three surveys conducted in the
United States among high school students provide empirical evidence sup-
porting the association between exposure to CSA and the manifestation of
sexual aggression in the targeted population (Borowsky et al., 1997; Casey
et al., 2008; Lodico et al., 1996).
While there is some evidence from population studies that supports the
“sexually abused abuser hypothesis,” specifically about male youths, it is
important to note that research is scarce within the academic community in
Bangladesh concerning male survivors of CSA. This scarcity of research on
such a delicate subject matter is noteworthy. Moreover, discussions about
male child sexual abuse (MCSA) are often stigmatized within certain cultural
4 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
contexts, contributing to a pervasive sense of shame surrounding this topic.
Among male survivors of child abuse in Bangladesh, recent research indi-
cated that 67.21% were suffering from severe depression and 21.31% had
tried suicide on some occasion (Siddik et al., 2024). Based on the researchers’
current understanding, our study represents the inaugural investigation into
the phenomenon of sexually abusive behavior within the Bangladeshi con-
text. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of individuals
who transition from being victims of sexual abuse to becoming either new
victims or perpetrators themselves, as well as to identify associated factors.
Methodology
Ethical Approval
The study project, with the identifier NSTU/SCI/EC/2023/174, was given by
the Institutional Review Board at Noakhali Science & Technology University
in Bangladesh. Before any online data was collected, all participants handed
over their informed written consent online. Participants in the study all gave
their informed permission.
Study Design and Data Collection
CSA remains a taboo topic in Bangladesh due to prevailing cultural circum-
stances (Sultana et al., 2022). Hence, in an offline context, the collection of
data becomes an unattainable endeavor. In a cross-sectional study from June
to December 2023, a survey was conducted in which a total of 540 individu-
als participated across Bangladesh. These participants completed an online
questionnaire in the form of a Google form, which included variables related
to sociodemographics, suicidal ideation, sexual abuse history, and sexual
offending measures. The participants were requested to indicate their willing-
ness to partake in the study as a component of the written consent process.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
As inclusion criteria in this research, the following conditions were required:
(a) Persons who were born in Bangladesh and are citizens of Bangladesh; (b)
boys who were abused sexually as children by male perpetrators; (c) indi-
viduals who are more than 18 years old; and (d) individuals who provided
their permission to take part in this research. Some of the rationales for exclu-
sion were as follows: (a) Persons who were less than 18 years old; (b) boys
Siddik et al. 5
who had been abused sexually by female offenders; and (c) individuals who
had not consented to take part in the research.
Measures
Sociodemographic and Related Measures. This study considered the following
items for measuring the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents:
Age; occupation (student, working); living area (city, village); marital status
(married, unmarried); age when abused (below 13, 14–19, more than 20);
repetitive sexual abuse (yes, no); physical abuse while sexually abused (yes,
no); sexual abuse type (external touch, penetration); relationship with the
perpetrator while being abused (relatives, peers, strangers, others); disclosure
(yes, no); received any kind of psychological treatment (yes, no); major sex-
ual involvement (with man, with woman, both); relationship with the victim
while perpetrating (relatives, peers, stranger, and others).
Suicidal Ideation. The Ask Suicide-Screening Questions is a brief and validated
instrument to assess suicidal ideation among youth (Horowitz et al., 2012).
This study used the tool validated by the National Institute of Mental Health.
It has four questions regarding suicidal ideation such as “In the past few
weeks, have you wished you were dead?” and “In the past week, have you
been having thoughts about killing yourself?” with two answers, yes or no. If
a participant responds “yes” to any of the four questions, then he is identified
as having suicidal ideation (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.).
Sexual Abuse Questionnaire. We used the questionnaire that was developed
and validated by Mohler-Kuo et al. (2014) to determine whether the par-
ticipants had experienced any sexual abuse while they were children
(Mohler-Kuo et al., 2014). In their study, Rojas and Olver (2020) exam-
ined the validity and reliability of the Violence Risk Scale–Youth Sexual
Offense Version (VRS-YSO), a tool used for assessing the risk of sexual
offenses in youth and planning appropriate treatment strategies. The VRS-
YSO, developed by Mohler-Kuo et al. (2014), was used in this study to
assess static risk factors and traits. For this cross-sectional study, a stan-
dardized digital version of the VRS-YSO was adapted for secure use on
WhatsApp and Facebook. A pilot survey with 23 participants confirmed
the feasibility and reliability of this online format. The tool’s established
psychometric properties include high inter-rater reliability (Intraclass Cor-
relation Coefficient = .85) and strong predictive validity, with an AUC of
0.79 for predicting sexual recidivism, further supporting its use.
6 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
Analysis
The data was compiled using Microsoft Excel. The analysis was conducted
using SPSS 26.0 software after the data had been edited, cleaned, and format-
ted. The correlation matrix was used to analyze the multicollinearity of the
dataset. Data dependency, multivariate normality, independence, and multi-
collinearity were all verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. A fre-
quency table was employed to depict the variations in socioeconomic status.
The Pearson chi-square test was employed to identify the significant vari-
ables associated with the independent variable. Later, a binary logistic regres-
sion model was utilized to analyze the proportions of factors.
Results
Sociodemographic Profile of the Participants
Table 1 shows the demographic information of the research participants.
With an average age of 21.3 years, 540 respondents joined the survey. 62.9%
of the participants were students, and 37% were involved with different
works. In terms of living area, 60.1% were living in the city, and 39.8% were
from village areas. Among the respondents, 33.3% were married, while
66.6% were unmarried.
Prevalence of Offending
The prevalence of involvement in victimization among the survivors is seen
in Figure 1. Surprisingly, the study discovered that 63.2% of survivors
reported having their involvement. Additionally, Figure 1 demonstrated that
36.8% of respondents admitted to involvement in offending behavior, while
others denied any such involvement.
Factors Associated with Offending Among the Participants
From Table 1, the data analysis does not reveal any specific trend or associa-
tion between occupation and involvement in victimizing others. However,
living area (p = .001) showed a significant effect on individuals becoming
offenders, as 67.7% of respondents from villages (39.8%, N = 540) reported
“yes” in this circumstance, compared to respondents from the city (60.1%,
n = 540). The unmarried respondents (66.6%, N = 540) were significantly
higher and involved (89.6%) in offending than the married respondents
(33.3%, N = 540). Relationship of the respondent’s age when abused
Siddik et al. 7
Figure 1. Involvement in offending.
(p = .003), repetitive sexual abuse (p = .001), physical abuse while sexually
abused (p = .001), and types of sexual abuse (p = .03) with the involvement in
making other victims are statistically significant. Respondents below the age
of 13 (58.1%, N = 540) and who were the victim of repetitive sexual abuse
(70.5%, N = 540) were at a high risk of involving in offending. Table 1 also
demonstrates that the respondent’s relationship with the perpetrator while
being abused (p = .01) is highly statistically significant. Participants shared
that they had not had a disclosure (89.2%, N = 540) at the higher-risk zone.
Maximum respondents expressed not getting any psychological treatment
(96.4%, N = 540) presenting higher involvement (69.9%), and depicted that
the result is highly statistically significant (p = .001). Major sexual involve-
ment (p = .003) and suicidal ideation (p = .02) had a significant effect on the
involvement in victimizing others, while the relationship with the victim
while perpetrating is not statistically significant.
Figure 2 illustrates the relationship between victimization and several sig-
nificant factors. Individuals with male partners report the highest victimization
8 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
Table 1. Sociodemographic Characteristics and Reported Involvement in
Offending Behavior.
Variables
Frequency
(%), n = 540
Yes No
p-value
Count
(N %)
Count
(N %)
Age Mean Age 21.6 years old
Occupation
Student 340 (62.9) 76.2 23.8 .981
Working 200 (37.0) 30.1 69.9
Living area
City 325 (60.1) 25.5 74.5 .001**
Village 215 (39.8) 67.7 32.3
Marital status
Married 180 (33.3) 20.9 79.1 .05*
Unmarried 360 (66.6) 89.6 10.4
Age when abused
Below 13 314 (58.1) 61.1 38.9 .003*
14–19 134 (24.8) 47.4 52.6
More than 20 92 (17.0) 13.7 86.3
Repetitive sexual abuse
No 159 (29.4) 33.3 66.7 .001**
Yes 381 (70.5) 89.3 10.7
Physical abuse while sexually abused
No 211 (39.0) 27.8 72.2 .001**
Yes 329 (60.9) 61.6 38.4
Sexual abuse type
External touch 123 (22.7) 39.4 60.6 .03*
Penetration 417 (77.2) 72.1 27.9
Relationship with the perpetrator while being abused
Relatives 433 (80.1) 65.2 34.8 .01*
Peers 51 (9.4) 50.4 49.6
Stranger 34 (6.2) 43.0 57.0
Others 22 (4.0) 52.5 47.5
Disclosure
No 482 (89.2) 78.8 21.2 .05*
Yes 58 (10.7) 11.7 88.3
Received any kind of psychological treatment
No 521 (96.4) 69.9 30.1 .001**
Yes 19 (3.5) 5.3 94.7
(continued)
Siddik et al. 9
Variables
Frequency
(%), n = 540
Yes No
p-value
Count
(N %)
Count
(N %)
Major sexual involvement
With man 437 (80.9) 93.4 6.6 .003*
With woman 21 (3.8) 21.5 78.5
Both 82 (15.1) 50.3 49.7
Relationship with the victim while perpetrating
Relatives 403 (74.6) 87.8 12.2 .552
Peers 79 (14.6) 52.7 47.3
Stranger 44 (8.1) 37.3 100
Others 14 (2.5) 48.6 51.4
Suicidal ideation
No 163 (30.1) 31.1 68.9 .02*
Yes 377 (69.8) 87.2 12.8
*p-Value significant level ≤.05.
**p-Value significant level ≤.001.
Table 1. (continued)
93.4
21.5
50.3
6.6
78.5
49.7
WITH MAN WITH WOMAN BOTH
MAJOR SEXUAL INVOLVEMENT
VS VICTIMIZATION
Yes No
61.1
47.4
13.7
38.9
52.6
86.3
BELOW 13 14 TO 19 MORE THAN 20
AGE WHEN ABUSED VS
VICTIMIZATION
Yes
No
65.2
50.4
43
52.5
34.8
49.6
57
47.5
RELATIVES PEERS STRANGER OTHERS
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
PERPRETATOR VS
VICTIMIZATION
Yes No
69.9
30.1
5.3
94.7
YES NO
PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT
VS VICTIMIZATION
No Yes
Figure 2. Different significant factors vs victimization.
10 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
rates, while age below 13 also correlates strongly with victimization. Relatives
are the most common perpetrators, and a lack of psychological treatment is
prevalent among victims. These insights highlight critical patterns in victimiza-
tion based on sexual involvement, age, perpetrator relationship, and treatment
access.
Logistic Regression Analysis
Binary logistic regression in Table 2 represents the factors behind the
involvement in victimizing others. It shows that occupation and relation-
ship with the victim while perpetrating have no significant association
with victimizing others. On the other hand, it presents that, participants
from village areas (OR = 2.35; 95% CI [1.53, 3.60]), unmarried (OR = 1.56
[0.73, 3.32]), respondents who were abused before the age of 13 (OR = 2.35
[1.53, 3.60]) and 14 to 19 (OR = 1.87 [1.20, 2.90]) chronologically more
likely at risk than the respondents from the city, married and respondents
aged more than 20.
Respondents who experienced repetitive sexual abuse (OR = 4.67; 95%
CI [3.19, 6.85]) and who had gone through sexual abuse associated with
physical abuse (OR = 3.96 [2.72, 5.76]) were more likely to be involved in
victimizing others. Those who were penetrated (OR = 4.41 [2.90, 6.72])
during sexual abuse are 4.41 times more likely to be involved in the
offending process, regardless of the type of abuse. Those who were abused
by peers (OR = 2.47 [1.91, 3.19]) and strangers (OR = 1.26 [0.98, 1.63])
were more likely to be at risk of becoming offenders. The victims who did
not disclose their abuse were 3.8 times (OR = 3.87 [2.78, 5.40]) more
likely to have offending behavior than those who disclosed their abuse
history.
Participants who were involved in major sexual involvement with men
(OR = 4.64; 95% CI [2.72, 7.91]) and with both genders (OR = 2.56 [1.76,
3.73]) were more likely to be in danger than those who were involved with
women. Participants expressed those persons with suicidal ideation 3.6 times
(OR = 3.66 [2.30, 5.82]) are more likely to be involved in victimizing others.
Table 2 also demonstrates that persons who did not receive any form of psy-
chological treatment (OR = 6.65 [4.76, 9.29]) are more likely to be involved
in victimizing others.
Siddik et al. 11
Table 2. Factors Associated with Involvement in Victimizing Others.
Variables Exp (B)
95% CI
[Lower, Upper]
Age Mean age 21.6 years old Occupation
Student 1.21 [0.85, 1.71]
Working Reference
Living area
Village 2.35 [1.53, 3.60]
City Reference
Marital status
Unmarried 1.56 [0.73, 3.32]
Married Reference
Age when abused
Below 13 2.35 [1.53, 3.60]
14–19 1.87 [1.20, 2.90]
More than 20 Reference
Repetitive sexual abuse
Yes 4.67 [3.19, 6.85]
No Reference
Physical abuse while sexually abused
Yes 3.96 [2.72, 5.76]
No Reference
Sexual abuse type
Penetration 4.41 [2.90, 6.72]
External touch Reference
Relationship with the perpetrator while being abused
Relatives 3.38 [2.56, 4.45]
Peers 2.47 [1.91, 3.19]
Stranger 1.26 [0.98, 1.63]
Others Reference
Disclosure
No 3.87 [2.78, 5.40]
Yes Reference
Received any kind of psychological treatment
No 6.65 [4.76, 9.29]
Yes Reference
Major sexual involvement
With man 4.64 [2.72, 7.91]
Both 2.56 [1.76, 3.73]
With woman Reference
(continued)
12 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
Discussion
Research indicates that the estimated prevalence of CSA ranges from 8% to
31% for females and from 3% to 17% for males (Barth et al., 2013). This
study also explored sexually offensive behavior among MCSA survivors and
assessed the significant factors associated with the offending. We found that
factors such as living area, marital status, age at the time of the abuse, repeti-
tive sexual abuse, physical abuse during sexual abuse, type of sexual abuse,
relationship with the perpetrator during the abuse, disclosure, receipt of any
kind of psychological treatment, major sexual involvement, and relationship
with the victim while perpetrating were significantly associated with offend-
ing behaviors.
Following prior research and theoretical assumptions, individuals who
have experienced CSA were found to have a higher likelihood of self-report-
ing engaging in coercive sexual behaviors toward others, compared to indi-
viduals who have not experienced CSA (Borowsky et al., 1997; Casey et al.,
2008; Seto & Lalumière, 2010). Research conducted among Swiss males
revealed that the occurrence of sexual abuse was determined to be of compa-
rable significance to other risk factors for the development of sexually abu-
sive behaviors in male adolescents (Aebi et al., 2015). Similar findings were
reported by Seto & Lalumière (2010) in samples of male teenagers from
Norway and Sweden; those with a history of CSA were more likely to report
coercive sexual behaviors, even after adjusting for other sexual behaviors
(such as pornography usage), drug abuse, and nonsexual violent behavior.
Our study also identified similar results. For instance, 63.1% of sexually
abused males abused another individual.
Variables Exp (B)
95% CI
[Lower, Upper]
Relationship with the victim while perpetrating
Relatives 1.67 [1.16, 2.41]
Peers 1.46 [1.06, 2.01]
Stranger 1.56 [0.73, 3.32]
Others Reference
Suicidal ideation
Yes 3.66 [2.30, 5.82]
No Reference
Note. CI = confidence interval.
Table 2. (continued)
Siddik et al. 13
The prevalence of CSA tends to vary across different areas. Cities reported
a greater incidence of sexual abuse as compared to those living in rural
regions; those living in rural areas reported a lower frequency (Karayianni
et al., 2017; Scheper-Hughes & Devine, 2003). In a separate study, it was
observed that survivors of CSA from urban areas reported a higher frequency
of CSA incidents compared to those from townships or rural regions (Feng
et al., 2010). In addition, research has suggested that the likelihood of becom-
ing an offender is higher in city areas (Becker et al., 1986). Our research
found that individuals residing in rural areas exhibited a higher prevalence of
engaging in offensive behavior as compared to those residing in cities. This
aspect presents a notable departure from the findings of previous research.
Due to the conservative cultural norms prevalent in rural areas, individuals
may be hesitant to disclose incidents of abuse, creating opportunities for
abusers to victimize others.
The drive to have sexual encounters is one of the defining characteristics
of the human species (Ainsworth, 2015). In this scenario, it appears that men
who are not married or in committed relationships exhibit a higher level of
sexual desire (Yuk-ha Tsang, 2019). The study found a positive correlation
between being unmarried or unattached and an increased likelihood of engag-
ing in sexual offending behavior (Olver & Wong, 2017). Numerous other
studies examining sexual offenders have indicated that married individuals
who had been sexually abused in childhood exhibit a lower propensity for
reoffending compared to their unmarried counterparts (Hilarski et al., 2008;
McGrath, 2013; Rice et al., 2013). One of the key findings of this study sup-
ported the previous findings that unmarried survivors were at higher risk of
offending.
There is evidence to suggest that individuals who have experienced mul-
tiple instances of sexual abuse may be more susceptible to engaging in
offending behaviors later in life (Levenson et al., 2014a). In a study con-
ducted by Claudia et al. (2015), it was observed that individuals who experi-
enced multiple forms of maltreatment were more likely to be associated with
a higher prevalence of violent offenses (van der Put et al., 2015). The findings
of several additional studies among male victims of CSA came to the same
conclusion (Aebi et al., 2011, 2015; Levenson et al., 2014b; Nicholas Groth
et al., 2016). The findings of our study aligned with those of the other studies.
Repeated sexual abuse was another element that we discovered to be a sig-
nificant predictor of becoming a sexual offender in later life.
The current research suggested that there is a higher likelihood of students
engaging in sexual offenses against male children or adolescents compared to
individuals who are currently employed. Nevertheless, the researchers
encountered a paucity of studies about this discovery. Additional research
would be beneficial to obtain robust evidence.
14 Journal of Interpersonal Violence 00(0)
Strengths and Limitations
To our knowledge, no previous studies in Bangladesh have specifically
addressed the issue of survivors of MCSA. This study represents the first
investigation into the sexual offending behavior exhibited by MCSA survi-
vors, marking a significant strength of the research. Another strength is the
study’s robust sample size, which enhances the generalizability of the find-
ings. In addition, this work’s strongest aspect lies in identifying key accelera-
tors for offensive conduct. However, the reliance on self-reported
questionnaires is a notable limitation, as it may introduce biases. Furthermore,
corrections for multiple analyses were not applied, which increases the risk
of Type I errors and is acknowledged as a constraint. The research could also
include other conspicuous variables for a more comprehensive analysis.
Despite these limitations, this study provides valuable insights and sets a
foundation for further exploration in this critical area.
Conclusion
Individuals who are victims of sexual abuse by men often experience signifi-
cant psychological repercussions as a result of the abuse. Among the survi-
vors, the development of sexually offensive behavior is considered one of the
most significant effects that might result from this trauma. This indicates that
those who have been mistreated may become abusers. According to the find-
ings of this research, a sizable percentage of the people who had been sub-
jected to sexual abuse exhibited sexually objectionable conduct. We
recommend that those responsible for formulating policies do so to break the
vicious cycle of abuse. In addition, the victims need to attempt to access psy-
chological assistance. It is recommended that people who have a significant
amount of sexual interaction with other males obtain psychiatric therapy.
Overall, it is necessary to put an end to the cycle of victimization.
Acknowledgments
In this research, we would like to thank the “The Center for Social Policy & Justice”
and “Accountability Partner” for helping us collect the data and facilitate communica-
tion with the participants using online platforms.
Author Contributions
Md. Abu Bakkar Siddik: Conceptualization, Data curation, Validation, Formal
analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Writing—original draft, Writing—review &
editing
Md. Rajwanullha Shakil: Data curation, Validation, Formal analysis, Methodology,
Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing.
Siddik et al. 15
Monia Manjur: Data curation, Project Administration, Writing—original draft.
Md. Ishtiaq Ahmed Talukder: Writing—original draft, Writing—review &
editing.
Md. Bashir Uddin Khan: Writing—review & editing.
Muhammad Asadullah: Supervision, Writing—review & editing.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to the authorship
and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this
article.
ORCID iDs
Md. Abu Bakkar Siddik https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7752-1953
Md. Rajwanullha Shakil https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8271-5256
Md. Bashir Uddin Khan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0652-158X
Muhammad Asadullah https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2212-1092
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Authors Biographies
Md. Abu Bakkar Siddik is now pursuing a PhD at the School of the Environment,
Nanjing University, China. In addition, he is associated with The Center for Social
Policy and Justice in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is primarily interested in the overlap
between environmental studies and social policy, namely in matters of social justice
and community welfare.
Md. Rajwanullha Shakil is a dedicated sociologist and researcher, currently pursu-
ing a Master of Social Science (MSS) in Sociology. With a passion for addressing
societal issues, his research focuses on a wide range of topics, including childhood
sexual abuse, internet addiction, and policy analysis. Through rigorous research and
community engagement, he strives to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and
societal well-being.
Monia Manjur, MSS, is a lecturer in the Department of Social Work at Noakhali
Science and Technology University in Bangladesh. Her work focuses on promoting
social welfare and tackling societal difficulties via education and advocacy, demon-
strating a strong dedication to social change and community development.
Md. Ishtiaq Ahmed Talukder, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Criminology
and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University,
Bangladesh. The scope of his study encompasses criminology, law enforcement, and
criminal justice, with a particular emphasis on the consequences for policy and
society.
Md. Bashir Uddin Khan, PhD, holds the position of professor in the Department of
Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology
University in Bangladesh. He focuses his academic studies on comprehending the
intricacies of crime and police, to make valuable contributions to the development of
successful policies and methods for law enforcement.
Muhammad Asadullah, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Justice
Studies at the University of Regina, Canada. He does academic research on several
dimensions of justice, such as social and criminal justice. He is particularly interested
in understanding the policy implications and real-world applications of his work. He
is the author who communicates on behalf of the organization.
