Changing public attitudes toward minor attracted persons: an evaluation of an anti-stigma intervention

Abstract

ABSTRACT Child sexual abuse is a prevalent problem within our communities, yet policies that address it are mostly responsive rather than preventive. Given its impact on victims, it is important to move toward secondary prevention strategies, such as targeting individuals at higher risk for offending due to their sexual interest in minors, but who have yet to offend, and providing them with the resources needed to remain offense-free. This strategy is hindered by stigma, which prevents minor attracted persons (MAPs) from self-identifying. To dispel that stigma, the present study aimed to assess public attitudes toward MAPs and determine whether they could be changed by reading a psychoeducational text about MAPs. Analysis revealed that reading the text was associated with more negative attitudes. Findings are discussed as they pertain to the development of an anti-stigma intervention for MAPs.