Sexual abuse of minors by women has been largely ignored. The truth is that victims of sexual abuse by females are at increased risk of becoming abusers later in life.

The finding of the study by the University of Georgia (UGA) in the United States has the potential to help break the cycle of abuse and reduce the likelihood of future sexual assaults on children by including offender prevention in treatment protocols.

"This study informs us about the pathway to becoming sexually deviant for females," said study author Susan Strickland, assistant professor at Atlanta's University of Georgia School of Social Work.

Sex offenders also exhibited more social and sexual insecurities, inhibitions and inferiorities. The findings, published in the April issue of the 'Journal of Interpersonal Violence' suggests that many female sex offenders struggle with relationships and lack the social skills to have their needs met with consensual adult partners.

Therefore, according to the study, treatment for female sex offenders should address their past trauma and focus on developing appropriate social skills and increasing arousal to appropriate sexual and emotional encounters.

Because victims are at increased risk of becoming abusers later in life, Strickland said their treatment should include offender prevention therapy, which addresses issues of power and control, appropriate sexual expression and boundaries, and cycles and triggers that may lead to offending behaviours.

Childhood sexual abuse also has been linked to a host of emotional and behavioural problems, such as substance abuse and eating disorders.

The true prevalence of female sexual abuse on children is unknown, but a commonly accepted figure is that five to seven percent of sex crimes are committed by females.

The University of Georgia study, the largest of its kind, surveyed 130 incarcerated females - 60 of which were sex offenders and 70 of which were nonsexual offenders - and examined factors such as childhood trauma, substance abuse, emotional neediness and personality disorders.

While the majority of both groups reported being the victims of childhood maltreatment, the sex offenders were significantly more likely to experience pervasive, serious and more frequent emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect.