A comparison between exclusively male target and female/both sexes target child molesters on psychometric variables, DSM-IV diagnoses

R. Eher, C. Gruenhut, S. Fruehwald, P. Frottier, B. Hobl, M. Aigner

Forty-eight men incarcerated for child molestation were divided into two groups on the basis of the gender of their victims: (1) exclusively male target and (2) female or both sexes target child molesters. Psychiatric co-morbidity was measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Offenders were described in terms of the MTC:CM3 child molester typology, and they completed self-report instruments that measured aggressiveness, anger, depression, anxiety, and social anxiety. Psychiatric co-morbidity did not differ significantly across groups except for the prevalence of alcohol abuse/dependence, which was found to be significantly higher in the female/mixed gender target group. No differences were found on measures of aggressiveness, anger, depression, anxiety, or social anxiety. However, exclusively male target offenders were found to be less socially competent and to be high in contact with children on the MTC:CM3 typology. These data may provide evidence to confirm previous findings that male target child molesters are at higher risk for re-offending.and MTC:CM3 typology