ULOGA ISKUSTVA SEKSUALNE VIKTIMIZACIJE U OBJAŠNJENJU SEKSUALNE DELINKVENCIJE MALOLJETNIKA
THE ROLE OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCES IN EXPLAINING JUVENILE SEXUAL DELINQUENCY

Summary/Abstract: Juvenile sexual delinquency represents a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon, the explanation of which has increasingly been linked in the literature to experiences of prior sexual victimization. Although the majority of victims of sexual victimization do not engage in criminal behavior, empirical research indicates a higher prevalence of such experiences among juveniles who commit sexual offenses. The aim of this study was to evaluate and synthesize existing empirical evidence on the association between sexual victimization and juvenile sexual delinquency, with particular emphasis on methodological approaches, characteristics of victimization, and gender differences. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Science database, including 20peer‑reviewed empirical studies published between 2000 and 2026. The findings indicate a high prevalence of sexual victimization among juvenile sexual offenders, often higher than among juveniles who commit non‑sexual offenses. Furthermore, the results suggest that more severe, chronic, and intrafamilial forms of victimization—including penetrative abuse and higher levels of violence—are more common in specific subgroups of juveniles exhibiting sexually intrusive behaviors. However, the review also clearly demonstrates that sexual victimization cannot be interpreted as an isolated or universal cause of juvenile sexual delinquency, but rather as part of a broader constellation of cumulative negative developmental risk factors. The ability to draw firm conclusions is further limited by pronounced methodological heterogeneity across studies, evident in sample characteristics, research contexts, operationalization of key constructs, and the predominant reliance on cross‑sectional and retrospective designs.

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