Harmful Sexual Behaviour Research Articles

Key elements to consider when choosing an assessment tool for understanding risk related to harmful sexual behaviours

Key elements to consider when choosing an assessment tool for understanding risk related to harmful sexual behaviours

A descriptive evaluation of children presenting with Technology Assisted-Harmful Sexual Behaviour (TA-HSB) within a regional Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (FCAMHS)

ABSTRACT Unsupervised technology use by children is increasing rapidly and with it, a common area of crime is emerging: Technology Assisted-Harmful Sexual Behaviour (TA-HSB). Previous research has demonstrated that there are significant differences between adult offenders displaying TA-HSB, offline Harmful Sexual Behaviour (offline HSB) and those displaying both (dual HSB). This study aimed to investigate these differences further within a community adolescent forensic population over a period of four years (1 April 2018 to 31 March 2022). The demographic characteristics and TA-HSB typologies of an adolescent forensic population who were displaying TA-HSB (n = 43), offline HSB (n = 116) and dual HSB (n = 130) were examined. The implications for future research are discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This evaluation promotes a greater sense of awareness and knowledge of the characteristics of young people engaging in TA-HSB in a community adolescent forensic service and the incidence and types of TA-HSB they engage in. Findings help develop an understanding of risk formulation, differential needs and support of young people presenting with TA-HSB.

From ‘harmful sexual behaviour’ to ‘harmful sexual culture’: addressing school-related sexual and gender-based violence among young people in England through ‘post-digital sexual citizenship’

ABSTRACT Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in schools in England is a pressing concern, especially since the ‘Everyone’s Invited’ movement laid bare the extent of the problem across the country. This article analyses the national policy context, asserting that SGBV is a systemic problem rooted in young people’s school and online peer cultures that requires transformative solutions, involving active youth participation. We introduce and explore the utility of the concept of postdigital sexual citizenship. We contrast this approach with the prevailing behavioural science ‘nudge’ philosophy of government policy making and societal discussions on youth sexuality and rights currently shaping Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) discourse and policy in England. Challenging adult-centric, top-down methods and instead empowering young people as post-digital sexual citizens entitled to comprehensive RSE is vital. While our focus is on England, the arguments apply globally to jurisdictions tackling SGBV in schools.

The hidden nature of sibling sexual abuse: when sexually harmful behaviour masquerades as consensual sexual experimentation

Whilst the majority of sibling relationships are generally benign in providing an additional secure attachment figure and source of comfort in which they can grow and flour- ish, some are highly competitive, full of envy, rivalry, and resentment, which can lead to physical and sexual violence. It is estimated that sibling sexual abuse (SSA) is three to four times more common than adult to child sexual abuse (CSA) in the family. Lack of knowl- edge, research, and discourse on psychosexual development in children and the nature of SSA has led both parents, child protection professionals, and clinicians to normalise sexual interactions between siblings, and to minimise these as less harmful than generational CSA. To ensure that sibling sexual interactions, their impact, and long-term effects are fully understood, it is essential that parents and practitioners understand what constitutes harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) between siblings and be able to distinguish between developmentally typical sexual behaviour and developmentally atypical sexual behaviour in children. In recognising the nature, concomitant risk factors, impact, and long-term effects of SSA, parents and professionals will be more able to bear witness to the lived experience of SSA and facilitate the healing process.

Educators’ perspectives on harmful sexual behaviour

ABSTRACT Child sexual abuse is an epidemic, yet many are unaware that a significant proportion of sexual abuse is perpetrated by children and adolescents. Research indicates that professionals can hold unhelpful views of those engaging in Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) and lack confidence when handling cases. Given educators' proximity to young people, their experiences could shed light on the current picture within schools. The study aimed to contribute to the growing evidence-base, by exploring educators’ perspectives on HSB. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 educators working in English schools. Thematic analysis elicited three key themes: Awareness of HSB in education; Responses to fictitious and real-life cases; and perceptions of HSB. Educators demonstrated some knowledge of HSB and understood the processes for responding to cases. Real and fictional cases of HSB elicited strong, negative emotion in the sample. Recommendations included specialist training and support for educators and systemic change to minimise harm. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The findings of the study provide valuable insight regarding the first-hand experiences of teaching staff in relation to Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB); and the emotional impact of working with young people affected by sexual harm. It also takes into account systemic issues which perpetuate HSB. Recommendations seek to improve educators' confidence and competency, promote best practice, and tackle the prevalence of sexual harm in schools through “whole school” approaches.

Webinars and workshops as professional development tools to upskill frontline workers in identifying and responding to harmful sexual behaviours

BackgroundGrowing concerns about harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) experienced and exhibited by children and young people has resulted in a demand for training programs for frontline workers. However, HSB professional development initiatives must contend with various challenges and competing demands. ObjectiveThis study evaluated workshops and webinars as professional development tools to upskill frontline workers on preventing, identifying, and responding to HSB. Particularly, whether these platforms met the needs of the workforce; increased professionals’ perceived knowledge, confidence, competence, and actual knowledge, in what ways; and whether the training was subsequently applied in practice to identify and respond to HSB. Participantsand Setting: Surveys were issued pre- and post-workshop/webinar training to measure changes in frontline workers’ perceived knowledge, confidence, competence, and actual knowledge, to identify and respond to HSB (n = 638 pre- and n = 418 post-workshop respondents; n = 473 pre- and n = 419 post-webinar; n = 3 workshop and n = 27 webinar 12-month follow-up). MethodsQuantitative (paired sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and independent sample t-tests) and qualitative thematic analyses from pre- and post-workshop/webinar survey responses were conducted. FindingsFindings tentatively indicate workshops and webinars met the needs of participants and, overall, were effective in increasing perceived knowledge, confidence, competence, and actual knowledge. Despite a smaller 12-month follow-up sample, knowledge and skills learned from training were subsequently applied in practice to identify and respond to HSB. ConclusionThere is promising value in workshops and webinars as professional development tools for upskilling a diverse, and geographically dispersed, workforce.

Preventing harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people: evaluating the role of primary education

ABSTRACT This paper explores the issue of harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) presented by young people, advocating a preventative approach through an increased focus on primary education. The definition of HSB, contributing factors and recent prevalence among young people is discussed. Much of the research and policies explored relate directly to England and the UK, however the advocated approaches and conclusions have an international relevance. The paper establishes the damaging impacts of HSB on young people and teachers, demonstrating the serious need for action across the education system. A preventative approach advocating the important role of primary education in reducing HSB and peer on peer abuse is presented, exploring three key areas: education, pastoral support and staff support. Policies and practices comprising such an approach are critiqued, and their relevance to primary education established. The need for future research into the needs of primary education and the prevalence of HSB in pre-secondary education is identified.

The Profile and Characteristics of Young People Accessing Recently Implemented Community Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (F:CAMHS) in Northern Ireland

Children under the age of 18 who are known to forensic child and adolescent mental health services often present with complex psychosocial and behavioural needs that are elevated compared with those in the general youth population. The Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for Northern Ireland (FCAMHSNI) was commissioned in 2014 to support these children. Despite almost a decade of implementation, the profile and characteristics in the service remain under-analysed, impeding service improvement and making international comparisons more difficult. The primary aim of the current study was to address the regional gaps in how the needs of those accessing FCAMHSNI are understood. A secondary aim was to capture comparable data. Data on 107 accepted referrals are included in the analyses. The majority of cases within this time period were male (81.1%, n = 86) and the majority of presenting behaviours were related to violence and aggression 62.3% (n = 48). However, some forms of violence, such as harmful sexual behaviour, was relatively low when compared with other jurisdictions. Specific demographic characteristics such as gender and religious background appeared to be significant risk factors for referral to the service. Almost all of the sample are known to have experienced at least one potentially traumatic event (95.2%) and in more than one-third of cases, service users presented with co-morbid issues (35.6%, n = 37). These observations are discussed. This study adds to the growing international literature around the needs of forensically involved youth and helps to inform future service development and provision.

Education is key to tackling rise in child harmful sexual behaviour

Education is key to tackling rise in child harmful sexual behaviour

The Sexual Grooming Behaviors of Youth Who Engage in Harmful Sexual Behaviors

ABSTRACT Little is known about the extent to which youths who commit harmful sexual behaviors (HSBs) against another minor utilize sexual grooming during the offense process. This study examined sexual grooming behaviors reported by adults (n = 250) who experienced HSBs by another minor during their childhood. Participants completed a self-report survey which included the Sexual Grooming Scale – Victim Version (SGS-V). The results showed that most participants (n = 242; 96.9%) reported at least one sexual grooming behavior, with an average of 11.3 behaviors reported. These findings will be discussed as they pertain to the identification and prevention of HSBs among youth.

Pandangan Terhadap Pendidikan Seksual Pada Remaja: Literature Review

Sex education holds significant importance for teenagers from an early age due to their vulnerability to misinformation about sex. This dissertation aims to (1) explore teenagers' perceptions of sex education and (2) identify the sources they rely on for obtaining information about sex. Furthermore, sex education plays a crucial role in enlightening teenagers about various harmful sexual behaviors, enabling them to steer clear of such practices. The research employs a literature review methodology to unearth diverse information on adolescent sex education. Firstly, understanding adolescents' perception of sex education is deemed essential and advantageous in addressing their developmental challenges during this transitional phase from childhood to adulthood. Adolescence entails significant biological, cognitive, and socio-emotional changes, making sex education a pertinent tool to assist them. Secondly, teenagers predominantly turn to mass media, encompassing print media like newspapers, magazines, and books, as well as electronic media such as television and gadgets, for their sexual education. The mass media, along with peers, serves as the primary source of sexual information and knowledge for teenagers, as opposed to receiving such education from family or school environments.

Aotearoa New Zealand adolescents with harmful sexual behaviours: the importance of a holistic approach when working with Rangatahi Māori

ABSTRACT Māori adolescents are more likely to have lived through an array of adverse experiences due to unequal exposure to social disadvantage that Indigenous Māori face in Aotearoa New Zealand. Most of this disadvantage arises from intergenerational inequity resulting from the British colonial process. This study aimed to investigate how disadvantage manifests in the backgrounds of Māori adolescents with harmful sexual behaviours. Background characteristics in a sample of 1024 males (aged between 12 and 17), who were referred to a treatment programme for harmful sexual behaviour, were analysed and comparisons made between Māori and non-Māori on risk factors. Māori exhibited higher rates of risk factors (substance abuse, familial criminality, physical abuse victimisation and family violence) at different contextual levels (i.e. individual, family, school). Risks of school exclusion and sexual abuse victimisation were similar across ethnicities. Recommendations are made for prevention/treatment efforts that use holistic and culturally informed approaches. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT Culturally appropriate treatment for Māori with harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) is recommended. This needs to be led by Māori, for Māori and with Māori, including whānau/family-based treatment and prevention.

Implications of sexual fantasy characteristics and memory intensity for harmful sexual behaviour.

Sexual fantasies and memories are aetiological considerations in the perpetration of sexual violence, but fantasy-memory-behaviour relationships may be influenced by various factors, including sexual fantasy and memory phenomenology, that are the properties of mental imagery. To investigate differences in sexual fantasy phenomenology and sexual memory intensity in men who report a history of harmful sexual behaviour compared to those who do not. We also investigated whether the likelihood of reporting harmful sexual intent was related to sexual memory intensity, independently of age and harmful sexual behaviour history. An online cross-sectional survey design was used, focusing on men aged ≥18years who were recruited from the general population via social media. The survey prompted participants to envisage a favoured sexual fantasy, then obtained data on fantasy phenomenology, including vividness and sensations, and arousal level. In addition, information was requested about sexual memory intensity and harmful sexual behaviour history and intent. A total of 322 men completed the survey. Multiple Welch's t-tests showed that men self-reporting one or more harmful sexual behaviours, such as rape or child sexual abuse, gave significantly higher ratings of sexual fantasy phenomenology but not fantasy frequency or masturbation. They were also more likely to report higher sexual memory intensity. Although the significance of fantasy phenomenology varied between subgroups, binary logistic regression indicated that age, history of harmful sexual behaviour and sexual memory intensity were each independently associated with harmful sexual intent. Our findings provide new insights into the importance of fantasy phenomenology, demonstrating nuanced differences between those with and without a history of harmful sexual behaviour and illustrating that memory intensity is associated with harmful sexual behaviour intent. Further research into these differences in the context of assessment and intervention for sexual violence perpetration is warranted.

Terapeuters tanker om gjenopprettende prosess når barn begår seksuelle overgrep: en kvalitativ studie

Background: Restorative process has been used as a treatment intervention in cases where children sexually abuse other children. However, empirical knowledge of the method is scarce. Aim: This study aims to explore therapists` reflections on how restorative process affects children who participate. Method: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 therapists working with sexually abused children and child abusers. Six of the participants had experience in using restorative process. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in three themes: (1) becoming stronger, (2) making matters worse, and (3) restorative conditions. Conclusion: The majority of the therapists point out that restorative process can be helpful if it is well prepared, both children want to participate, and the abuser takes responsibility. Without these factors, restorative process can be harmful, especially for the victim. Keywords: harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual abuse, restorative process, qualitative method, therapist experience

Adolescents with harmful sexual behaviours in New Zealand: could assessment of personality-based classifications help guide therapeutic interventions?

The purpose of the present study was to report on a pilot study using a personality-based classification of a community-based sample of 298 adolescent males with harmful sexual behaviours (AHSB) using the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). Three personality-based profile types were identified using cluster analysis: Cluster 1. Detached, a detached and socially isolated type (n = 97); Cluster 2. Offending Supportive, an antisocial, offending-supportive type (n = 73); and Cluster 3. Typical Teen/Restricted, a type with few clinically elevated personality characteristics (n = 128). Further analyses indicated significant differences among the personality-based profiles on the MACI subscales that measured response styles, adolescents’ concerns and clinical problems. Few statistically significant relationships between the profile types and AHSB, offence and victim characteristics were found. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed, and the need for further research on the use of personality-based classification is recommended.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychosocial functioning problems for youths who sexually harm siblings

ABSTRACT This study explores adverse childhood experiences and problematic psychosocial functioning for youths who exhibit harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) against siblings in comparison to those that sexually harm non-siblings. In a sample of Australian male adolescents referred to a specialised sexual offending treatment service, greater prevalence of all adverse experiences investigated, except for caregiver incarceration, was found for youths who harmed siblings. Youths whose sexual behaviours harmed siblings were differentiated from other youths with HSBs in regard to characteristics of caregivers, including caregiver mental health issues, caregiver sexual victimisation experiences, and instability in caregivers during childhood. In addition, youths who exhibited HSBs against siblings experienced a greater total number of adversities in their lives and were characterised by poorer psychosocial functioning, such as social exclusion and internalising problems. Implications of these findings for clinical treatment is discussed. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT This research identifies developmental risk factors of youths who exhibit HSBs against siblings and examines if and how these differ from characteristics of youths who sexually harm non-siblings. Greater understanding of youths who sexually harm siblings allows treatment and prevention strategies to be tailored to their specific needs.

Group CBT for men with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who have harmful sexual behaviour.

Men with intellectual disabilities and/or autism sometimes engage in harmful sexual behaviour (HSB), but it may be harder for them to access treatment, than it is for non-disabled men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of attending an adapted CBT group, known as SOTSEC-ID, on men with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who had HSB. Ninety-eight men from intellectual disability services, who had ID and/or autism and a history of HSB were recruited, and they received group CBT for a year (46 of these men have been previously reported). Harmful sexual behaviour, sexual knowledge, distorted cognitions and victim empathy were measured before and after treatment, and at 6 month follow-up. There were low levels of further harmful sexual behaviour: 12% of men engaged in further HSB during the 1-year period of the group, and 8% engaged in further HSB in the 6-month follow-up period. There were also significant improvements in sexual knowledge, distorted cognitions and victim empathy following treatment, maintained at 6-month follow-up. Men with autism showed significantly more non-contact HSB, were less likely to have been interviewed by police and had higher rates of further HSB, compared to men without autism. It is concluded that SOTSEC-ID is a promising treatment for men with ID/autism and HSB. Nevertheless, the study had a number of limitations and lacked a control group, so there is now an urgent need for a proper controlled study.

Pathways to Onset of Harmful Sexual Behavior

ABSTRACT To develop harmful sexual behavior (HSB) early intervention strategies it is essential to understand how children come to engage in HSB. Through the lens of a pathways theory, this paper reports a scoping review of the literature in answer to the research question: What are the pathways to HSB onset for children and young people? Eight bibliographic databases were searched over the time period January 2000 to May 2022 using the following terms (and derivatives): harmful sexual behavior AND children and young people AND pathways. Forty-three papers were included and 10 pathways to onset identified through synthesis: Child sexual abuse victimization; Physical and emotional abuse; Living with domestic and family violence; Disrupted attachments; Sexual arousal; “Antisociality;” Pornography use; Inadequate sexual boundaries; Sexual attraction to children; and Hypermasculinity. The pathways are discussed in terms of opportunities for early intervention.

Sexual violence, deviance, and the paraphilias in American psychiatry, 1952–2013

ABSTRACT This article explores arguments within American psychiatry from the 1950s around whether rapists were mentally ill. It analyses debates in the lead-up to the various editions of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA’s) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) from 1952 to the latest version in 2013, focussing particularly on a diagnostic category called ‘Paraphilic Coercive Disorder’ (PCD). Since the first DSM, American psychiatrists had routinely considered people who committed certain forms of sexual violence to be suffering from mental disorders. For example, ‘Paedophilia’ and ‘Sexual Sadism’ had always been considered valid diagnoses. However, the APA refused to pathologise non-sadistic sexual violence committed against adults. Opposition can be classified into four overlapping arguments: uncertainty about ‘normal’ male sexual aggression, feminist worries about ‘excusing’ harmful sexual behaviours, concerns about the misuse of psychiatry in courts, and the need to defend the psychiatric profession from encroachments on their ‘territory’ by non-medically trained psychologists, social workers, and anti-psychiatric activists.

Safeguarding Young People beyond the Family Home: Responding to Extra-Familial Risks and Harms, Carlene Firmin, Michelle Lefevre, Nathalie Huegler and Delphine Peace

This is a long overdue and welcome text, in a social work research and practice context which is focused on and dominated by responses to and understanding inter-familial risk and harm. In recent years, there has been an increased awareness and understanding of extra-familial risks and harms (EFRHs) as safeguarding issues, such as harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and county lines. However, responses to these issues tend to have been shoehorned into existing safeguarding processes, which have been designed to respond to inter-familial risks and harms. This book, however, addresses the policy and practice gap that exists for responding effectively and holistically to EFRH and presents a clear and robust conceptual framework which recognises EFRH as a distinct and complex area of safeguarding practice. In the book, the authors identify characteristics associated with effective service responses to EFRH and principles of social care systems necessary for service responses to be effective.