Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Research Articles

PROTOCOL: Risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse and interventions against child sexual abuse: An umbrella review.

This is the protocol for a Campbell Collaboration systematic review. Our objective is to conduct an umbrella review to synthesize published and unpublished systematic reviews focused on risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse and effectiveness of interventions against child sexual abuse perpetration and victimization. Specific research questions are: (i) what are the risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse victimization, and what are their relative strength and/or magnitude for predicting child sexual abuse victimization? (ii) what are the risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse perpetration, and what are their relative strength and/or magnitude for predicting child sexual abuse perpetration? (iii) are interventions aimed at reducing and/or preventing child sexual abuse effective? (iv) what are the moderators that increase or decrease effectiveness of the interventions? Efforts to decrease child sexual abuse need to be based on research, but more accessible evidence regarding the breadth of risk and protective factors and effectiveness of interventions to reduce child sexual abuse needs to be provided to policymakers. This will be the first umbrella review that comprehensively synthesizes findings of the previous systematic reviews that focus on risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse and interventions to prevent or reduce child sexual abuse. The results will be able to inform enhanced prevention policy and programs, and regulatory measures for specific contexts of child sexual abuse.

Child Sexual Abuse and Boundary Violating Behaviors in Youth Serving Organizations: National Prevalence and Distribution by Organizational Type.

Many youth serving organizations (YSOs) implement child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention strategies. We examined the potential impact of those strategies by retrospectively estimating the prevalence of CSA and boundary violating behaviors experienced in five broad organizational settings: organized sports, religious organizations, music or arts programs, K-12 schools, and the "Big 6 settings" (i.e., 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and the YMCA of the USA). We compared victimization rates between nationally representative cohorts of younger adults (age 18-22; N = 3174) and slightly older adults (age 32-36, N = 3237). Across all participants and settings, 3.75% (n = 363) experienced CSA in YSOs. Among survivors, younger adults reported experiencing a lower proportion of CSA within Big 6 settings than older adults (29.1% vs. 44.5%; p < .05), suggesting that prevention efforts may be having the desired effects in Big 6 settings.

“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.

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.

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: What Parents Need to Know

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: What Parents Need to Know

Originalarbeiten / Original Articles. Prävention sexualisierter Gewalt an Kindern und Jugendlichen: Präventionsmaßnahmen und Schutzkonzepte in den Bereichen Sport, Musik und Kirche

Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse: Prevention Programs and Safeguarding Concepts in the Context of Sports, Musical Education, and Religious Organizations Prevalence rates of child sexual abuse by caregivers in private and non-public institutions underscore the need for implementing safeguarding concepts. However, factors driving the implementation of prevention and safeguarding in the field are not well understood. What supportive and inhibiting factors can be identified in the implementation of safeguarding concepts and prevention programs? Content analysis of semi-structured interviews with professional and volunteer staff in clubs and institutions (n = 10, 69 % female) as well as with individuals who experienced child sexual abuse during their childhood (n = 3, 66 % female). Safeguarding concepts in clubs or religious institutions were primarily initiated by umbrella organizations. Current incidents of child maltreatment, public pressure, and media attention substantially increased the need for preventive actions. The provision of training, resources, and networking structures by umbrella organizations further facilitated their implementation. Main implementation challenges included limited personnel and time resources, lack of expertise, insufficient training opportunities, and absence of guidelines and support from umbrella organizations. Due to club leaders' limited knowledge and resources an independent implementation of safeguarding concepts is largely lacking without concrete guidelines and support from umbrella organizations. To upscale safeguarding, public policies or incentive systems such as state-funded child protection certifications are thus paramount.

Perspective: Clinical care of pedophilic individuals in Zurich, Switzerland.

Individuals with pedophilia are considered to have an elevated risk for child sexual abuse (CSA). Nevertheless, it is assumed that pedophilic sexual impulses can be controlled from acting out. To prevent CSA an outpatient treatment facility for people with pedophilia was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 2021. The program focuses on the prevention of CSA and improvement of quality of life, incorporating empirically validated treatment principles, such as the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model and the Good Lives Model (GLM). Within the initial 24-month 142 individuals sought help, 46 individuals (mean age 36.0 ± 12.4 years) completed the assessment phase, two-thirds suffered from psychiatric comorbidities, and 67.4% reported sexual delinquency. The high drop-out rate was predominantly due to ongoing criminal proceedings, or other mental health conditions. Overall patients at this facility generally sought treatment voluntarily, leading to good treatment adherence, with severe self-harm being more prevalent than acute danger to others. A treatment approach focused solely on pedophilia is considered insufficient; psychiatric and psychosocial factors must also be addressed.

Challenges in Implementing Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Materials: A Survey of Primary School Teachers

The study investigates the current state of training materials used to prevent child sexual abuse, focusing on their frequency of use and the challenges faced by teachers in implementing these resources. The research surveyed 534 primary school teachers in Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, revealing that while the materials are generally regarded as useful, they are utilized only at an "average" level, with 54.3% of teachers referencing "Books, newspapers, magazines" during lesson planning. Despite the appreciation for the content and form of these resources, the study identifies significant challenges, notably the time and effort required by teachers to select scientifically sound materials, with an average difficulty score of 3.62. The research highlights that the existing materials, although scientifically based, are often too academic and difficult to apply in practical teaching scenarios. The findings underscore the fragmented and emotionally driven nature of current resources, which lack a solid scientific foundation tailored to children's psychological development. Consequently, this results in inadequate access to well-constructed materials by both parents and children. The study's outcomes provide insights into the frequency of use and the obstacles teachers encounter, offering recommendations for improving the accessibility and applicability of these materials. However, the research is limited to a specific geographic area and teacher demographic, suggesting that the results may not be fully representative of the broader southern region or Vietnam as a whole.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN’S DATA IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A LEGAL APPROACH TO PREVENT CYBERATTACKS AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

The growth of digital technologies and online platforms has dramatically increased the risk of children becoming victims of sexual abuse. Cybercriminals often abuse children's personal information, such as their name, age, location, and online activities, to identifyand exploit them. However, this digital revolution has also led to increased risks, including the vulnerability of children's data to cybersecurity attacks. One of the most concerning consequences of such attacks is facilitating child sexual abuse. Therefore,protecting children's data is essential in preventing child sexual abuse. In this background based on this hypothesis, this paper focuses on the legal approach to protect the vulnerability of children's data from cybersecurity attacks. The paper analysis the legal frameworks and guidelines developed by the Indian government to safeguard the personal data of children. Further, it would identify the current gaps in the legal framework and emphasise the need for further improvements towards strengthening the data protection of children. Moreover, the paper explores the role of technology in protecting children's data, including data encryption, secure data storage, access controls, and monitoring systems and also analyses the challenges associated with implementing these technological solutions. Finally, the paper offers suggestions for policymakers, legal practitioners, and technology professionals to protect children's data from cyberattacks, thereby preventing child sexual abuse.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Self–Efficacy of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention among Teachers in Selected Secondary Schools in Abeokuta South Local Government, Ogun State

Knowledge, Attitudes and Self–Efficacy of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention among Teachers in Selected Secondary Schools in Abeokuta South Local Government, Ogun State

The prevalence of child sexual abuse perpetrated by leaders or other adults in religious organizations in Australia

BackgroundNumerous national public inquiries have highlighted the problem of child sexual abuse in religious organizations. Despite this, evidence of population-wide prevalence is scarce. ObjectiveTo provide the first nationally representative prevalence estimates of child sexual abuse perpetrated by adults in religious organizations in Australia. MethodsThe Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) surveyed 8503 people aged 16 and over about their experiences of child maltreatment. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated based on responses to the child sexual abuse questions from the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2: Adapted Version (ACMS). ResultsOne in 250 people reported being sexually abused as a child by an adult in a religious organization (0.4 %, 95 % CI, 0.3–0.6 %). Men reported significantly higher rates of child sexual abuse by these perpetrators (0.8 %, 95 % CI, 0.5–1.2 %), compared to women (0.1 %, 95 % CI, 0–0.3 %). This type of sexual abuse was overwhelmingly perpetrated by men (0.4 %, 95 % CI, 0.3–0.6 %), compared to women (0 %, 95 % CI, 0–0.1 %), and was substantially more often experienced in Catholic organizations (71.9 %) than other Christian denominations or other religions. Prevalence of child sexual abuse in religious organizations has declined over time (2.2 % of men 65 years and older, compared with 0.2 % of 16–24-year-old men). ConclusionsChild sexual abuse has been widespread in religious organizations in Australia. A decline over time indicates progress has been made in preventing sexual abuse of children. Religious organizations must take all reasonable measures to prevent child sexual abuse, with a particular need for interventions targeting male leaders, and organizational cultures.

Sex Differences in Stigma Reduction toward Minor Attracted Persons (MAPs) via Contact Interventions

Individuals who are sexually attracted to children (i.e., people with pedophilic interests or minor-attracted persons; MAPs) can, and do, live offence-free. Stigmatization and fear of conviction, however, can prevent MAPs from accessing appropriate support and treatment. Previous researchers compared the impact of two interventions – narrative humanization vs. scientific information-in reducing stigma towards people with pedophilic interests and found the former to be more effective. Using freely available secondary data, the present study replicated and extend this previous research by directly examining sex differences on impact of the two interventions. As predicted, females (vs. males) held more negative and stigmatic attitudes towards sex offenders at baseline and, while both interventions showed a positive impact on these negative attitudes, the impact was greater for females. Results are discussed in terms of reducing stigma regarding MAPs by positioning the issue in the public health domain by educating mental health professionals via contact interventions as a means of better protecting children and preventing child sexual abuse.

Empowering parents of children with disabilities: assessing the impact of a child sexual abuse psychoeducation program in Türkiye

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive problem that can have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of children, as well as their families. Parents of children with disabilities (CWD) may face additional challenges in protecting their children from sexual abuse. This study aimed to examine the effects of a CSA psychoeducation program for parents of CWD. The program was designed to increase parental knowledge and attitudes towards CSA and prevention strategies, as well as to decrease parents’ anxiety regarding the topic. A total of 93 parents of CWD participated in the study, with 45 being randomly assigned to the experimental group and 48 to the control group. The findings suggest that the CSA psychoeducation program was effective in increasing parental knowledge and attitudes towards CSA prevention strategies. The experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group in all domains of the Child sexual abuse knowledge/attitude scale for parents. Additionally, the program was effective in reducing parents’ anxiety. This highlights the need for such programs to be implemented in schools and other community settings to increase parental awareness and prevent CSA.

Body Safety Training Program for Children with Disabilities; A Case Study of Department of Special Education Punjab Pakistan

The current study aimed to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual abuse prevention training program to increase personal body safety skills in children having intellectual, hearing, visual or physical disability. A quasi-experimental design with Within-subject was used in which participants were compared on pre-test and post-test. A sample of 40 participants (n=20 boys, n=20 girls), age range 06-19, attended 8-week training were taken purposively. Personal Body Safety Training Program was used as school-based program which delivered the child sexual abuse prevention knowledge and self-protection school-based What If’ Situations Test used as pre and post result measure. The ‘What If’ Situations Test (WIST-III-R) contains six scales designed to assess children’s abilities to recognize, resist, and report inappropriate touching. Paired sample t test, independent t test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. The Results showed that by attending such programs, children with disabilities could increase their knowledge of personal safety skills and apply this knowledge in their day-to-day lives. Results showed significant differences between pre and post scores of participants after undergoing the Personal Body Safety Training Program. Moreover, a significant difference was found between participants disability wise in pretest and posttest scores but there was no significant difference observed between boys and girls. The study inculcated that the training contributed positively to the children’s sense of personal space and reporting skills.

To Assess Knowledge of the Parents and Teachers Regarding Sexual Offences among School Children

Background and Objectives: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a critical global issue that significantly impacts children's physical and psychological health. Parents and teachers play vital roles in preventing and addressing CSA. This study aims to assess the knowledge levels of parents and teachers regarding sexual offenses among school children in the Sheopur district, identifying gaps to inform future educational and training programs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 200 participants from various clusters within the Sheopur district. A structured questionnaire assessed demographic variables and knowledge of CSA. Results: The study revealed that 67% of teachers had poor knowledge of CSA, with none exhibiting good knowledge, whereas 71% of parents had average knowledge and 11% had good knowledge. Demographic analysis indicated differences in awareness levels, influenced by age, gender, education, and occupation. Teachers, despite higher educational qualifications, demonstrated inadequate CSA awareness, highlighting a need for specialized training. Conclusion: Significant knowledge gaps exist among parents and teachers regarding CSA, with teachers particularly lacking adequate understanding. These findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive, targeted educational programs and training initiatives to enhance CSA awareness and prevention. Effective implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012, through practical training and ongoing assessment, is crucial to safeguard children's well-being and rights.

“Pay Attention! Pay Attention! Pay Attention!!!”: The Pivotal Role of Educators and the Educational System as Experienced by Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

Educational institutions and educators are significant in children’s lives, and they have a crucial role in implementing policies, practices, and sexual education to enhance children’s safety. Such policies and practices should be based on the voices of CSA survivors. This study explored child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors’ viewpoints on their past experiences with educators and the educational system. A qualitative thematic approach was used to analyze 61 written testimonies collected in 2020–2021 by the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry on CSA. Two interrelated themes arose: (1) CSA survivors’ retrospective perspectives of educators and the educational system’s responses to signs of their CSA, described as ranging from abusive to life-saving. Specifically, they shared three types of responses: (a) harmful and hurtful; (b) dismissive and ignoring; and (c) accepting and attending. (2) The second theme described the survivors’ messages to educators to promote constructive change. The survivors conveyed expectations that educators should play a central role in CSA prevention, detection, and intervention and, specifically, the need for educators to receive professional training, provide beneficial sexual education, and identify and respond to CSA. The findings promoted moving beyond individual-level interventions to focus on improving educational institutional and organizational cultures related to CSA in both national and international contexts.

Child sexual exploitation and abuse disclosure and help‐seeking: A glimpse of global South data

AbstractOver decades, research practitioners have highlighted how survivors of sexual abuse in childhood face strong forms of stigma including victim‐blaming, shame and social isolation. However, the data and evidence are disproportionately slanted towards the global North. Shifting the focus to the global South, this reflective piece draws on two substantial multicountry research projects to highlight the expectations and experiences of young survivors of child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) in their quest for support. By applying a socio‐ecological analysis, it demonstrates how societal stigma—from both professionals and young people themselves—compounds the help‐seeking process. The findings support the well‐documented concept that disclosing sexual violence is an ongoing—not singular—process that depends on a series of interactions at the individual, interpersonal and institutional levels of the ecosystem. Building better trauma‐informed responses is likely to help; however, a focus only on services falls short, especially in countries where child protection systems struggle to thrive. A concurrent transformative shift in both social and gender norms across the ecosystem is essential to address the seemingly intractable challenges to child sexual exploitation and abuse prevention and response.

Training and evaluation of robot-based psychological intervention program for preventing child sexual abuse

Background and purposePreventing child sexual abuse is a health and medical priority in many countries. The risk of sexual abuse can be markedly reduced through education, awareness, and skill-building for children. The purpose of this study was to train and evaluate a robot-based psychological intervention program for preventing child sexual abuse. MethodsThis study had a semiexperimental design that included pre- and posttests as well as a control group. A stratified random sample of 80 individuals was drawn from the population of eight-to ten-year-old children in Ghaen, Iran, in 2018. Subsequently, the sample was randomly divided into two experimental groups and two control groups. The experimental group participated in a robot-based psychological intervention program, for a total of 10 sessions. The control group received no intervention. The tool used to measure children's knowledge and awareness of sexual abuse was a custom-designed questionnaire developed by Tahan (Tahan, 2023). Participants completed the questionnaire in the pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. The collected data were analyzed using repeated measures ANCOVA in SPSS (v.25). ResultsThe findings demonstrated that educating children about sexual abuse was effective in enhancing their knowledge of appropriate and inappropriate touching (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the robot-based cognitive-behavioral intervention program for the prevention of child sexual abuse was effective (p < 0.01). ConclusionThe psychological intervention program increased children's knowledge and awareness concerning the prevention of sexual abuse and associated coping skills. Furthermore, psychological intervention programs were effective in preventing child sexual abuse.

Prevention of child sexual abuse in the United States: Scoping review of United States legislative policies

BackgroundStates in the United States (US) have passed and enacted legislation for the purpose of preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) since 2000, but it is unknown whether these legislative policies reduce adult-perpetrated CSA. ObjectiveReview the literature from 2000 to 2023 to understand which US CSA prevention policies have been evaluated, the effectiveness of these policies, study populations, and barriers and facilitators associated with the implementation of CSA prevention policies. MethodsThe study protocol was published prior to undertaking the review: PMC10603531. The review follows Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and is reported according to the PRISMA-ScR Checklist. We searched 27 databases, hand searched reference lists of included studies, and sent notice via listserv to other researchers in the field. Articles were included if the content focused on CSA prevention policies and the effects. No limits to methodology were applied. Methodological rigor was assessed. Results2209 potentially relevant articles were identified; 20 articles advanced to full-text review, three satisfied the inclusion criteria. Three eligible studies focused on CSA prevention education policies, while the other focused on mandated reporting policies. Effects of these policies were mixed in relation to CSA reporting and substantiation rates. No study considered child demographics. ConclusionsDespite decades of legislative action for CSA prevention across the US, only a few studies have assessed the effects of these policies. These findings highlight the need for additional research to ensure that CSA prevention policies such as CSA prevention education in schools and mandated reporting practices are working as intended.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Prevention of Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Literature

Online Child sexual abuse (OCSA) is a major menace in the digitalized world. Every year, more than a billion children between the ages of 2–17 years are sexually abused. Despite the harsh reality of most incidents, they remain unreported. Not only that but activities on dark web platforms go unmoderated and it becomes very difficult and complex to trace the origin of abuse and exploitation of children. In cases of online abuse, the sources through which detection can be done are evaded. Although several government and non-government initiatives have been implemented worldwide to curb this social menace, their effectiveness and accuracy remain questionable. AI-based services if regulated and executed cautiously can be effective in diagnosing and preventing sexual abuse in children on virtual platforms. Existing literature implies that AI can be a potent armor to detect and predict child sexual abuse online. The ability of artificial intelligence to predict and stop sexual abuse in children is very promising. AI-based technologies that can aid in the identification and prevention of violence against children include mobile computing, the Internet of Things, chatbots, machine learning, pattern recognition, and cloud computing. Therefore, it is essential to examine the existing literature pertaining to the research area, to highlight the emergent need for more applied and evidence-based research in the area. Thus, this study aimed to identify interventions driven by artificial intelligence in preventing online child sexual abuse, its limitations, and future implications. We conducted an extensive systematic literature review to understand the trends and efficacy of AI-based services in preventing and tracing child sexual abuse. The selection of research studies was performed in accordance with the PRISMA standards. Relevant studies were extracted from databases such as ScienceDirect, Springer, IEEE, and MDPI. Articles were selected and screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study identified 35 papers that were strictly limited to the prospect of AI interventions for online child sexual abuse. The review helped in deducing 3 major themes, namely, current trends in the field of AI for preventing online child sexual abuse, algorithm evaluation (advantages and disadvantages of AI tools) in preventing OCSA, and recommendation for technique advancements of AI tools. However, there is scarce evidence that proves AI interventions are effective in solving online child sexual abuse issues, as shown in the paper, thereby encouraging more extant research to be conducted in the area.