The present study examines gender differences in the association between abuse and neglect during childhood, and sexual and violent offending in juvenile delinquents.

Female juvenile delinquents were more frequently victim of sexual and physical abuse and had a history of neglect and maltreatment than male juvenile offenders.

Male juvenile offenders committed more sexual offenses and felony offenses against persons.

Female juvenile offenders reported higher levels of having committed misdemeanor offenses against persons and violence that were not included in criminal history.

A history of sexual abuse was related to sexual offending, while a history of physical abuse was related to violent offending. The relationships between victimization and offending were stronger in male juvenile offenders than in female juvenile offenders.

Table 1

Prevalence of sexual and physical abuse and neglect separately for female and male juvenile offenders

	Girls (n = 3,502)	Boys (n = 10,111)	χ 2/t	d
History of victimization of sexual abuse (total)	33 %	8 %	1336.76***	.66
- By a family member (SAF)	14 %	4 %	459.51***	.33
- Outside the family (SAOF)	24 %	5 %	1021.95***	.57
History of victimization of physical abuse (total)	36 %	24 %	203.16***	.25
- By a family member (PAF)	31 %	21 %	137.89***	.20
- Outside the family (PAOF)	10 %	5 %	111.90***	.18
History of victimization of neglect	29 %	21 %	108.77***	.18
Any form of maltreatment	61 %	37 %	631.16***	.44
Average number of forms of maltreatment	1.08 (SD = 1.12)	.55 (SD = .85)	28.60***	.57

*** p < .001

Table 2

Prevalence of sexual and violent offending behavior separately for female and male juvenile offenders

	Female (n = 3,502)	Male (n = 10,111)	χ 2	d
Sexual aggressive behavior (total)	3 % (n = 119)	10 % (n = 1,016)	150.53***	.78
- Felony sexual offense (s)	1 % (n = 31)	5 % (n = 548)	131.34***	1.08
- Misdemeanor sexual offense (s)	1 % (n = 20)	3 % (n = 308)	67.77***	1.02
- Report (s) of sexual aggression not included in criminal history	2 % (n = 76)	6 % (n = 637)	89.38***	.76
Violent behavior (total)	72 % (n = 2,522)	73 % (n = 7,384)	1.35	.02
- Felony against-person offense (s)	12 % (n = 430)	18 % (n = 1,840)	65.59***	.35
- Misdemeanor against-person offense (s)	44 % (n = 1,522)	37 % (n = 3,776)	39.34***	.17
- Report (s) of violence not included in criminal history	58 % (n = 2,030)	54 % (n = 5,442)	18.05***	.10