More than 9,400 young people have responded to the survey. 24 percent of the girls in the study report that they have been subjected to vaginal, anal, or oral penetration against their will, which according to the law constitutes rape. More than four out of ten report that the perpetrator is an acquaintance.
Slap in the face or strangulation
19 percent of the girls also report that they have been subjected to physical violence during sex. In more than half of the cases, it involves a casual sex partner. The survey does not provide an answer to how the violence is expressed.
We haven't asked more specifically about it. We only gave an example in the survey that physical violence, for example, can be a slap in the face or strangulation, says Klara Abrahamsson, researcher at the Public Health Agency.
Part of the explanation may be that boys and men report having difficulty understanding whether someone else wants to have sex or expressing their own desire for it, according to the survey. Boys need to practice their communication skills, believes Klara Abrahamsson. She hopes that the results will be spread among those who work with children.
The school has an important role, and we also see that many young people receive information from school. Then young people also need to have contact with youth clinics, which are very good at this, she says.
"Extremely alarming"
Åsa Landberg is a child psychologist and expert at the Allmänna Barnhuset Foundation, which has also worked on reports about young people and sexual abuse. She describes the figures as "extremely alarming" – although not surprising. Many victims experience psychosocial problems that can persist for a long time. It can involve concentration difficulties and difficulties in relationships.
It's basically all types of psychiatric symptoms you can imagine. It's about anxiety, depression, and self-harm. There is a very strong connection between self-harm or attempting to take one's life if one has been subjected to sexual abuse.
Her advice to those who are victims is to understand that what they have been subjected to is unacceptable, but that they are not alone.
But also that there is help to be had. If for some reason you don't want to or feel ready to report to the police, there is anonymous support to be had that you can start with, she says.
The Public Health Agency has conducted the "UngKAB23" survey, where KAB stands for knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The goal is to gain knowledge about young people's sexual and reproductive health and rights. 39,894 people between the ages of 16 and 29 were contacted via letter, but the survey was answered digitally.
In total, 9,444 people responded to the survey. The result has been adjusted based on a dropout analysis by SCB.
+ Approximately one in ten reports various forms of honor-related violence or oppression, such as demands from the family to live in a heterosexual relationship or wait until marriage to have sex.
+ 45 percent of those who have had sex have had it without a condom with a new or casual partner in the past year.
+ 28 percent have been tested for sexually transmitted diseases in the past 12 months.
+ 24 percent of the girls and 2 percent of the boys have been subjected to anal, oral, or vaginal penetration against their will.
+ 18 percent of the girls and 3 percent of the boys have been subjected to physical violence during sex.
+ 9 percent report that someone has forced them to do something sexual via webcam or mobile against their will.
+ The average age for the first menstruation is 12.5 years. 16 percent have stayed home from school or studies every menstrual period in the past six months due to menstrual problems. 9 percent have taken sick leave from work or practice every menstrual period.
