Child Sexual Abuse Research Articles

‘Saying No’: Frames of Sexual Abuse in Survivors’ Narratives

AbstractUsing qualitative interviews with survivors and activists against sexual violence in the Catholic Church in Switzerland, this article suggests that the expression “saying no” or the idea of “refusal” frames discussions regarding child sexual abuse with detrimental consequences. This discourse is sometimes linked to a restrictive understanding of sexual consent and is applied to children in very asymmetrical relationships, who should be placed outside the scope of sexual consent. Particularly for men who have been sexually abused as children, this understanding of consent is referred to when speaking about sexual abuse. This asks questions about the gender norms influencing the discourse of consent and the challenges of understanding oneself as a victim of abuse. The article argues for a critical examination of the concept of consent and its connection to children and minors. It suggests that it is crucial, as many (feminist) scholars in different fields have argued, to abandon a negative standard of consent (saying no, resisting) in politics against sexual violence and instead focus on the capability to participate in and determine the sexual relationship.

Empowering Youth through Play: Promoting Awareness of Sexual Grooming among Schoolchildren through Game-based Learning

Sexual grooming is engaging with a child to build a relationship with intentions of sexual exploitation. In some cases, it precedes child sexual abuse. The need for child sex education can be further illustrated by the severity of the trauma that results from the abuse. Hence, it is ideal to recognise the signs of grooming to reduce the risk of child sexual grooming. This project aims to develop an age-appropriate game to assess game-based learning to educate children on preventing sexual grooming. The methodology implemented in this project is the outcome-based methodology. First, a survey was distributed to guide the design of the game and to identify the relevant learning outcomes relating to sex education the respondents wish their children to learn. Based on the results, there are four learning outcomes to be achieved. Second, the genre of the game was determined to be a visual novel. Third, the premise of the game was written. Fourth, assets to enhance the playing experience were either created or sourced online. Fifth, the game mechanics were developed using Godot Engine. Sixth, the game mechanics were play tested iteratively, before and after integration with one another. Seventh, all the mechanics and non-mechanic elements were integrated to complete development. Eighth, the game was play tested online. Pre- and post-test results from the playtest were recorded and evaluated. Using paired samples t-test with a 95% confidence interval, the calculated t-value 12.011 was more significant than the critical t-value of 2.042, and the p-value 0.00001 was lesser than the significance level of 0.05. The result suggests that using the game to create awareness of physical and online grooming towards children was effective.

What Helps Children and Young People to Disclose their Experience of Sexual Abuse and What Gets in the Way? A Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract Background Global research has found that prevalence rates of child sexual abuse suggest that this is a significant ongoing public health concern. A recent Australian study, for example, revealed that more than three girls and almost one in five boys reported experiencing sexual abuse before the age of 18. Self-reported rates of abuse, however, far exceed official figures, suggesting that large numbers of children who experience sexual abuse do not come to the attention of relevant authorities. Whether and how those children have tried to tell their stories remains unclear. Objective The goal of the review was to explore scholarly literature to determine what was known about what enables or constrains children to disclose their experience of sexual abuse. Method A systematic scoping review was undertaken to better understand the current state of knowledge in the scholarly literature on child sexual abuse disclosure. Thirty-two scholarly publications were included for analysis following a rigorous process of sourcing articles from five databases and systematically screening them based on transparent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ecological systems and trauma-informed theoretical paradigms underpinned an inductive thematic analysis of the included manuscripts. Results Three multi-dimensional themes were identified from the thirty-two publications. These themes were: factors enabling disclosure are multifaceted; barriers to disclosure include a complex interplay of individual, familial, contextual and cultural issues; and Indigenous victims and survivors, male survivors, and survivors with a minoritised cultural background may face additional barriers to disclosing their experiences of abuse. Conclusions The literature suggests that a greater understanding of the barriers to disclosures exists. Further research that supports a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of enablers and the barriers to disclosure across diverse populations is needed. In particular, future research should privilege the voices of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, mobilising their lived experiences to co-create improved practice and policy.

Understanding experiences of non-physical maltreatment in childhood in Canada: What is the relationship with suicidal ideation and mental health disorders?

Physical and sexual childhood abuse are associated with suicidal ideation and mental health disorders. However, less is known about non-physical types of maltreatment. This study examined associations between non-physical types of child maltreatment (e.g., emotional abuse, interpersonal aggression, exposure to physical intimate partner violence, emotional and physical neglect) and suicidal ideation, and mental health disorders. Data from the 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces were used to estimate the proportion of individuals 15 years and older in Canada who experienced non-physical maltreatment during childhood. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine associations between five types of non-physical child maltreatment and suicidal ideation, and mental health disorders. Overall, interpersonal aggression was the most common (45.7%), followed by emotional abuse (40.4%) and emotional neglect (20.0%). Individuals who experienced any type of non-physical maltreatment in childhood had a higher probability of lifetime suicidal ideation than those who never experienced the maltreatment examined. Mood disorder diagnoses were more likely among those who experienced emotional abuse, interpersonal aggression, and emotional neglect than among those who never experienced these types of maltreatment. Compared with those who never experienced the maltreatment examined, individuals who experienced emotional abuse, interpersonal aggression, emotional neglect, or physical neglect were more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder were more likely among those who experienced emotional and physical neglect than among those who never experienced these types of maltreatment. Non-physical child maltreatment is associated with suicidal ideation and mental health disorders. The findings highlight the importance of including non-physical types of child maltreatment on population-based surveys to differentiate associations with mental health outcomes to better align interventions and policies.

The Effectiveness of Psychological Intervention for Women Who Committed Child Sexual Abuse: An Empty Systematic Review.

The topic of sex offenses committed by women has received relatively little attention until recent decades. The scarcity of research in this domain underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding and effective interventions. Women who committed child sexual abuse (CSA) exhibit a distinct psychological profile compared to men, requiring specific intervention programs. The current systematic review has two aims: the primary aim is to analyze the effectiveness of psychological interventions with women who committed CSA, and the secondary aim is to identify the intervention models and strategies used with them. Six databases were searched for studies examining the effectiveness of psychological interventions. All retrieved papers were excluded after full-text assessments as none met the primary objective. However, eight publications fulfilled the secondary objective of identifying models and strategies that could inform intervention development. The intervention programs presented addressed specific targets focused on criminogenic needs highlighted in the literature as central to this population, as well as targets that complement the intervention according to individual characteristics. Moreover, the studies frequently emphasize an intervention approach centered on individuals' potential (and not just their deficits), employing a gender paradigm to underpin psychological interventions with this population. The results of this review highlight a major gap in the current literature concerning both the delivery and effectiveness assessment of psychological intervention for women who committed CSA. The studies incorporated for the second objective elucidated critical treatment targets and models to inform intervention strategies, which are subsequently discussed in terms of their practical implications.

Risk Prediction Model for Child Sex Trafficking Among Female Child Welfare-Involved Youth: Welfare-Involved Female Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment Tool.

Background: Female child welfare-involved youths who are removed from the home are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to identify those at greatest risk of trafficking. Methods: Data were from the Florida Department of Children and Families' Florida Safe Families Network Database. A Cox proportional hazard regression of 60 cases and 3857 controls generated the proposed risk model. Results: Factors found to be associated with a higher risk of trafficking were quantified into point scores, generating the Welfare-Involved Female Sexual Exploitation Risk Assessment (WISER) tool with a cutoff of 20 points: first out-of-home placement at ≥15 years of age (11 points); run away from home in past year and age <15 years (40 points) or ≥15 years (16 points); English spoken as other language (14 points); on a psychotropic drug (17 points); congregate first placement (14 points); runaway/abducted status first "placement" (16 points); psychiatric facility experience (9 points); residential facility experience (7 points); and no time in temporary shelter (9 points). Of those who experienced CSEC, 92% had a WISER score above 20. Discussion: The WISER tool achieved good discrimination and calibration ability with a receiver operating characteristic for the validation data set of 0.923. The WISER tool can (1) inform risk assessment for CSEC among child welfare-involved females and (2) identify youths at greatest risk before they are harmed by trafficking.

Cyber Dating Violence Among Youth and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Studies have shown that there are protective and risk factors related to cyber dating violence. However, the effect size of these factors is unclear. This study aims to clarify the effect size of the associations of protective and risk factors, as well as symptoms of mental health conditions, with cyber dating violence perpetration and victimization. Databases, including PubMed, Web of Science (WoS), ProQuest, Scopus, and EBSCOhost were searched to identify relevant studies. Forty-nine studies were included in the current study. Results revealed statistically significant and medium relationships between cyber dating violence perpetration and some risk factors, including offline dating violence perpetration-related factors (i.e., physical, psychological, sexual, relational, verbal/emotional, and threat) and offline dating violence victimization-related factors (i.e., physical and psychological); and small relationships with other risk factors (i.e., sexual offline dating violence victimization, attachment styles, and jealousy), protective factors (i.e., family support and emotional regulation), and mental health symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and alcohol use). There was also statistically significant and robust relationship between cyber dating violence victimization and verbal/emotional offline dating violence victimization (i.e., risk factor); medium relationships with some risk factors, including offline dating violence perpetration-related factors (i.e., psychological and verbal/emotional) and offline dating violence victimization-related factors (i.e., physical, psychological, sexual, relational, and threat); small relationships with other risk factors (i.e., physical offline dating violence perpetration, attachment styles, childhood sexual abuse), protective factors (i.e., family support, emotional regulation, and self-esteem), and mental health symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, alcohol use, and drug use). The study's results highlight risk and protective factors associated with cyber dating violence and demonstrate its association with mental health symptoms.

Childhood Sexual Abuse & Sexual Revictimization Among Sexual Minority Men

ABSTRACT Sexual minority (SM) men’s sexual revictimization (SR; i.e. experiences of adult victimization among childhood sexual abuse survivors) is an understudied topic despite evidence that SM men are disproportionately impacted by sexual violence (SV) over the life course. This study addresses this gap utilizing a diverse sample (n = 2859) of SM men (age 18–30) from the U.S. Results demonstrated that over 10% of SM men had experienced SR. Further, strength-based (e.g. sense of LGBTQIA2S+ community) and minority-stress (e.g. internalized homonegativity) related factors were examined as moderators of the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult sexual assault victimization (ASAV) in the past six months. One factor emerged as a significant moderator of the CSA-ASAV relationship: perceived discrimination. Practice-based implications are provided.

A Review of Academic Use of the Term "Minor Attracted Persons".

Although it originated within online pro-pedophile groups, the term "minor attracted person" (MAPs) has been adopted by some academic researchers as a neutral and non-stigmatizing alternative to the term "pedophile." The transferral of this term from pedophile advocates to academic scholarship has been highly controversial. Claims that the use of the term "minor attracted people" normalizes or endorses pedophilia deserve closer scrutiny. This paper is based on a rapid evidence review of all peer-reviewed papers between 2015 and 2023 that used variants of the term "minor attracted" in their title and/or abstract. After screening, 30 studies were identified for review. Our analysis took a thematic approach to understanding the construction and use of the term MAPs in this scholarship. The analysis found that the term MAPs was operationalized in different and contradictory ways, however, the literature broadly agreed that MAPs constitute an oppressed sexual minority who are subject to undue stigmatization and discrimination. We point to the similarities between this sympathetic framing of MAPs and the political goals of the pro-pedophile advocacy groups that created the term MAPs, and from which many MAPs studies recruit their research participants. The review concludes that, in the absence of adequate self-reflexivity and awareness of bias, academic collaborations with pro-pedophile groups can produce work that minimizes the risk and harm of child sexual abuse and has the potential to delegitimize child sexual abuse prevention and treatment efforts.

Sexual Violence and Girl Child Completion of Primary Education; A Case Study of Mitooma Sub County, Mitooma District.

The study focused on determining the relationship between sexual violence and girl child completion of primary education. Specifically, to find out how girl child sexual assault affects the completion of primary Education; to find out how girl child sexual harassment affects the completion of primary education ; to find out how effectiveness of statutory instruments in place towards sexual violence against girl child affects completion of primary Education and to find possible measures of controlling sexual harassment against girl child in primary schools in Mitooma Sub County. The study adopted cross-sectional research design with the sample size of 160 respondents, participants were selected using simple random and purposive sampling. Data was collected using questionnaire survey, interview method and focused group discussion. It was analysed using descriptive and pearson correlation coefficient. The study found out that sexual assault had a positive significant contribution to girl child completion of primary education. The study also revealed that that effect of sexual violence had a negative significant contribution to girl child completion of primary education. The study showed that effectiveness of statutory instruments had a positive significant contribution to girl child completion of primary education. The study found out that school has provided learners with basic information on how to avoid situations leading to sexual violence; sign posts have been hung in the school compound bearing messages against sexual violence; the school provides a protective environment and free from risks of sexual violence. The study recommends that government should promote gender equality and respect through incorporating gender equality and respectful relationships into school curricula. Teach children about consent, boundaries, and mutual respect from a young age. Government though police and court should ensure Immediate and Comprehensive Support for Victims by providing immediate and ongoing psychological support to help victims cope with trauma and regain confidence in their ability to learn and participate in school; Ensuring that victims have access to medical care to address any physical health issues resulting from the violence and to offer preventive and supportive care; Maintaining strict confidentiality to protect the privacy of victims and reduce the risk of stigma or further trauma. Government should periodically review and update laws and policies to address emerging trends and challenges related to sexual violence; ensure that statutory instruments cover all aspects of sexual violence, including prevention, protection, and prosecution, and address the specific needs of children. The study also recommends that there should be parent and caregiver workshops to offer workshops for parents and caregivers on recognizing signs of abuse, discussing safety with children, and understanding their role in prevention.

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse and the Use of Child Sexual Abuse Materials: Following up on the German Prevention Project Dunkelfeld.

Sexual interest in minors (i.e., pedophilia and hebephilia) is considered a risk factor for Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and the use of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). This study examined the long-term development of CSA, CSAM use, associated cognitions, and quality of life among self-referred, help-seeking individuals diagnosed with pedophilic or hebephilic disorder (PHD) outside the judicial system. Of the 110 eligible men who had undergone therapy for PHD due to psychological distress or risk of offending, 56 were available for follow-up assessment 1-11 years after treatment. Behavioral manifestations, offense-supportive cognitions, and quality of life were evaluated using interviews and psychometric measures. At follow-up, 7.7% of participants with a history of CSA had re-offended, whereas 89.1% of previous CSAM users reported recidivism, although with less severe material. No new CSA offenses occurred among those without prior CSA. Treatment led to increased cognitive victim empathy and reductions in CSA-supportive and CSAM-supportive attitudes, but only the latter improvement persisted through follow-up. Participants exhibited elevated CSA-supportive attitudes relative to community norms at all time points and diminished quality of life at follow-up. Pedophilic and hebephilic disorder carry a persistent risk of sexual offending, particularly regarding CSAM use. Therapeutic gains in offense-supportive cognitions may erode over time without ongoing care. A comprehensive public health approach encompassing early detection, prevention, and expanded treatment access that addresses both the risk of reoffending and overall well-being is crucial for reducing sexual victimization and improving mental health outcomes for individuals from this target group.

“But I wanted to talk about it”: Technology-assisted child sexual abuse victims’ reasoning for delayed disclosure

BackgroundVictim disclosure is crucial in uncovering and preventing child sexual abuse, but many victims are reluctant to disclose. While research on child sexual abuse has identified a range of barriers and facilitators for disclosure, the disclosure process for technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA) is largely unexplored. ObjectiveGain a first-person perspective on TA-CSA disclosure. Participants and settingSeven young women (aged 7–13 at onset of abuse, 17–24 at interview) were interviewed about the barriers to disclosure they had faced and potential facilitating factors that would have helped them disclose earlier. MethodsThe interviews were analyzed using data-driven reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsA wish to tell captures the desire to have had someone to share abusive experiences with. Fearing who would find out encapsulates the fear that disclosing to one person will spread beyond the initial disclosure. A need for a cue reflects the participants' lack of knowledge and the need for invitations to talk about sex and abuse. Fearing it was my fault conveys the participants' sense of guilt and their wish to understand that they were not to blame. ConclusionsDespite a wish to disclose, shame, guilt, and fear were barriers that held them back. Knowledge about TA-CSA, and invitations to the topic were seen as potential facilitators. Four suggested facilitating factors for disclosure, which society and the adult world should prioritize, were synthesized from the interviews: open dialogue on sensitive topics, providing an opportunity to tell, allowing the child to be in control of the story, and lifting the shame and self-blame.

The Propensity for Deviant Sexual Behavior in the General Population: An Empirical Examination of the Motivation-Facilitation Model.

In their influential paper Wurtele et al. (2014) investigated the degree to which individuals within the general population (N = 435) express sexual interest in children. In the male population of their study (n = 173), about 6% showed a propensity to engage in sexual activity with a child. Based on a German general population sample consisting of women and men (N = 911, n = 206 males), we were able to replicate most of the results of Wurtele and colleagues (e.g., 6% of men indicated some likelihood of having sex with a child). To explain sexual offending, Seto (2019) developed the motivation-facilitation model (MFM). In our study, we were interested whether this model also translates to explaining the propensity for deviant sexual behavior in the general population. Moderated hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that hypersexuality and sexual fantasies had significant effects as motivating factors for deviant sexual behavior (e.g., sexually assaulting an adult), whereas we found no significant effect of psychopathy as a facilitator. For the prediction of child sexual abuse, only hypersexuality had a significant effect. Notably, after including gender in both models the effect of hypersexuality was no longer significant. Accordingly, we were able to show that the MFM is useful in explaining the propensity for deviant sexual behavior foremost in the male general population. Thus, in clinical practice an assessment of hypersexuality seems to be most relevant for the male population.

Understanding the Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse in China from a Cultural Perspective: An Analysis of Posts from an Online Q&amp;A Forum

Understanding the Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse in China from a Cultural Perspective: An Analysis of Posts from an Online Q&amp;A Forum

The Richness of Reports Provided by Children in Israel: Examination of the Impact of Social Affiliations.

Forensic interviews following child sexual abuse (CSA) are of central importance to the children, their families and all those involved. Moreover, the legal system expects rich, forensically relevant reports from the children. The current study focuses on the impact of children's social affiliation on the richness of their reports, and how question types contribute to rich reports. The sample included 314 forensic interviews conducted in Israel between 2015 and 2018. The findings revealed a relationship between child characteristics (gender), abuse characteristics (perpetrator identity, abuse type, abuse frequency) and social affiliation with report richness. Furthermore, question types (free recall prompts, summaries, directive, option-posing, suggestive) moderated the relationship between the child's characteristics, abuse characteristics, and social affiliation with report richness, when these effects were not equal. The findings emphasized that contextual observation of sexually abused children may promote better services for them and, in addition, stressed the importance of advancing future training and practical guidelines for practitioners.

Child Sexual Abuse among Street Children: A comparative study of On-Street and Of-Street children in Port Harcourt Metropolis, South-South, Nigeria

Child Sexual Abuse among Street Children: A comparative study of On-Street and Of-Street children in Port Harcourt Metropolis, South-South, Nigeria

What Women Want: Program Design for Females Sentenced for Child Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT There is a growing body of research exploring the treatment needs of females sentenced for child sexual abuse (CSA), along with an increased recognition of the importance of considering the “female” experience in correctional programming for this population. While knowledge of the gendered nuances relevant to “what” to address in program content has been explored, strategies for “how” to enhance responsivity in treatment programming for this population are less well-known. This research aimed to uncover key responsivity considerations relevant to program design and configuration for women sentenced for CSA. Interviews were conducted with justice-involved women sentenced for CSA in Australia (n = 18) and practitioners (n = 25) involved in delivering treatment. Thematic analysis revealed that flexible treatment methods, re-imagined treatment settings, and positive alliances are perceived as essential features of programs for women sentenced for CSA. Participant suggestions largely reflect practices currently used within programs for males sentenced for these offenses, and mirror international best-practice standards in correctional treatment. These findings shine light on the preferences of women who are commonly silenced in correctional research; thereby helping to inform evidence-based program development and design to enhance responsivity.

"Everything Is Changing, We Need to Adapt": Between Tradition and Modernity-Educators Coping with Child Sexual Abuse.

Socio-cultural contexts are formative to how teachers understand, conceptualize, and act when contending with child sexual abuse (CSA) cases among their students. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the experiences of Druze Arab teachers in Israel coping with cases of CSA among their students and the meaning they attribute to CSA in the context of socio-cultural change. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 female Druze elementary school teachers. All of the participants taught in schools located in Druze villages, where the children of Druze families comprise the majority of the student body. The analysis used a thematic approach. The analysis revealed that a transition between tradition and modernity in the Druze socio-cultural group was the central conceptual framework through which the teachers' narratives regarding CSA emerged. As an emblem of modernity, increasing openness around sexual topics was perceived as simultaneously favorable and threatening to both the welfare of children and the well-being of the community. Coping with CSA was viewed as a negotiation between closed (traditional) and open (modern) society, as well as silence and dialogue regarding CSA. This study highlights the importance of preventing teachers' cultural biases from affecting their contributions to CSA interventions, as well as how religion can be a source of strength when confronting CSA. Implications for policy and developing bottom-up, culturally sensitive training, practice, and interventions are discussed.

Interpersonal Difficulties Arising from Child Sexual Abuse: Differences Between Intra-familial and Extra-familial Abuse Victims.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) often has serious implications for the victims. The scientific literature reflects a diversity of sequelae that may appear in the short and long term. Interpersonal difficulties have been shown to be one of the most common consequences. However, studies comparing these sequelae between victims of intra-familial (IF) and extra-familial (EF) CSA are scarce. The aim of this research was to analyze differences in dyadic satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and attachment patterns in adulthood between Spanish IF victims, EF victims, and non-victims of CSA. The Sexual Victimization Subscale of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Relationship Assessment Scale, the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire were administered to 140 adults (94 CSA victims and 46 non-victims) aged 18 to 54 years. CSA victims scored lower than the non-victims on the personal sexual satisfaction factor and attachment factors characterized by the need for approval, hostile resolution of conflicts, and emotional self-sufficiency. Statistically significant differences were also found between the victim groups in the factors characterized by the need for approval and communication of feelings and comfort with relationships showing the IF group to have more impairment in these areas than the EF group. In conclusion, CSA may have serious implications for the development of victims' interpersonal relationships. The context of sexual abuse and the relationship between victim and offender appears to play a role in the development of relational problems. These findings highlight the need to implement specific strategies in the psychological treatment of victims depending on their relationship with the offender and the environment in which the abuse occurred.

Time as a Category in Survivors' Reports About Child Sexual Abuse: An Explorative Approach to Lifetime Abuse.

Since the 1990s, cases of serious violence and abuse, particularly sexual abuse in educational and social institutions of the Catholic Church, have been reported in numerous countries, including Ireland, the United States, and Australia. In many countries, commissions have been set up to investigate the widespread cases of abuse that could not be prosecuted under criminal law. The testimonies of survivors and other witnesses are used by the commissions of inquiry in their work. Since 2016 the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Germany has collected more than 2,500 reports from survivors of child sexual abuse. Forty-four testimonies were analyzed in a study seeking to understand more about lifetime abuse. In an explorative analysis, aspects of time as a key category in the reports were identified using the structured content analysis method. The results highlight the importance of time in the reports and during all phases of the survivors' lives. Overall, four themes are relevant: (a) the identification of turning points, (b) time to make sense of what happened, (c) the practice of waiting, and (d) time-bound experiences of testifying.