Abstract
The dilemma of adolescent consent confounds dispensation of justice in child sexual abuse and juvenile justice contexts, with legal personnel struggling to discern between consent and coercion in cases of adolescents who are sexually abused and those who are accused of alleged sexual offences. Given that capacities for consent also determine personal safety and mental health, there is an imperative to build a child mental health research agenda for developing methodologies that incorporate psychological knowledge on abuse dynamics, adolescent mental health and development, vulnerability and risk, to assess adolescent sexual consent and sexual decision-making processes.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call