Multidimensional determinants of sexual violence: an econometric approach to the childhood–adulthood nexus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25097/rep.n44.2026.01Keywords:
sexual violence against women, discrete choice models, EcuadorAbstract
Recent research highlights the influence of early psychological and social factors in shaping sexual violence (SV) in adulthood. This study examines the effect of childhood violence within the family and social environment on SV against women. Microdata from the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Ecuador for 2010 (5,879 observations) and 2019 (12,600 observations) were used, applying chi-square tests and discrete choice models. The estimates included traditional coefficients and marginal effects to capture the probability of victimization. The results indicate that women whose partners experienced violence in childhood are between 11% and 16% more likely to suffer SV. These findings demonstrate that childhood violence is a significant predictor of sexual aggression in adulthood and reinforce the theory of the intergenerational transmission of violence, underscoring the need for early interventions and effective preventive policies.
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