OBJECTIVES: To describe normative sexual behavior in Dutch-speaking children; to assess the frequencies of different types of sexual behaviors reported in children by their parents; to analyze the relation of these sexual behaviors to demographic, personal, familial, and general behavioral variables; and to compare the Dutch-speaking sample with American samples. METHOD: Nine hundred seventeen children (2-12 years of age), screened to exclude sexual abuse, were rated by their caregiver via parent report consisting of the translated Dutch version of the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, the Child Behavior Checklist, a life event checklist, and a questionnaire assessing family nudity and parental attitudes regarding sexuality. RESULTS: Frequencies of a wide variety of sexual behaviors for 2- to 5-, 6- to 9-, and 10- to 12-year-old children are presented. Sexual behavior was found to be related to the child's age, maternal education, family nudity, and parental attitudes toward sexuality. The positive relation to general behavioral problems was confirmed. Findings were primarily similar to previously published American studies. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that sexual behavior in children is varied and related to developmental, personal, and familial factors. The relative frequency of the wide variety of sexual behaviors in a Dutch-speaking normative sample is comparable to American samples.
OBJECTIVES: To describe normative sexual behavior in Dutch-speaking children; to assess the frequencies of different types of sexual behaviors reported in children by their parents; to analyze the relation of these sexual behaviors to demographic, personal, familial, and general behavioral variables; and to compare the Dutch-speaking sample with American samples. METHOD: Nine hundred seventeen children (2-12 years of age), screened to exclude sexual abuse, were rated by their caregiver via parent report consisting of the translated Dutch version of the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory, the Child Behavior Checklist, a life event checklist, and a questionnaire assessing family nudity and parental attitudes regarding sexuality. RESULTS: Frequencies of a wide variety of sexual behaviors for 2- to 5-, 6- to 9-, and 10- to 12-year-old children are presented. Sexual behavior was found to be related to the child's age, maternal education, family nudity, and parental attitudes toward sexuality. The positive relation to general behavioral problems was confirmed. Findings were primarily similar to previously published American studies. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that sexual behavior in children is varied and related to developmental, personal, and familial factors. The relative frequency of the wide variety of sexual behaviors in a Dutch-speaking normative sample is comparable to American samples.