Online Child Sexual Exploitation and the Role of Computer-Mediated Communication: A Scoping Review.

The online landscape has shifted since the rise of smartphones and social media in the 2010s and altered the way children use technologies. Along with a reliance on computer-mediated communication (CMC) is the concern of online child sexual exploitation (OCSE). This scoping review provided an updated examination of the prevalence, risk factors, outcomes, and disclosures of OCSE since 2010. Systematic searches were conducted using three databases for studies published between January 2010 and January 2023. Results indicated an alarming prevalence of, and a wide range of risk factors and consequences associated with OCSE worldwide. Many young victims struggled to recognize OCSE as a serious form of abuse. The need to monitor the ever-changing Internet landscape for young users is highlighted.

The Relevance of Hypersexuality and Impulsivity in Different Groups of Treatment-Seekers With and Without (Exclusive) Pedophilia.

Hypersexuality and impulsivity are regarded as risk factors for sexual offending against children. Studies exploring these factors in undetected men who offended or are at risk of offending are rare. This study aims to investigate hypersexuality and impulsivity in treatment-seeking men with and without a diagnosis of (exclusive) pedophilia who committed child sexual abuse (CSA), consumed child sexual abuse images (CSAI), or feel at risk of offending sexually. Data were obtained from three child abuse prevention projects in Bamberg, Germany. We employed self-report (BIS-11, HBI), objective measures (TSO), and risk assessment tools (STABLE-2007). We computed Bayesian ordinal logit and binomial generalized linear models to explore differences between groups and to predict lifetime CSA and CSAI. Hypersexuality scores were particularly pronounced in patients with exclusive and non-exclusive pedophilia. Patients without pedophilia scored similarly to nonclinical samples. Impulsivity measures did not consistently differ between groups. We could not predict lifetime CSA and CSAI using impulsivity and hypersexuality measures. Sexual rather than general impulsivity seems to be an issue in men with pedophilia. The motivation to offend in patients without pedophilia is discussed.

Trust, entrusting and the role of trustworthiness for adult survivors of child sexual abuse.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) are reported to have difficulties in trusting. Yet no previous study investigating CSA survivors' subjective experiences of trust exists and there is a paucity of clinical research into constructs and definitions of "trust." AIMS: To use a phenomenological lens to investigate CSA survivors' descriptions of trust relationships and trustworthy others by privileging their subjective experience. To better understand how trust can be built within therapeutic relationships. METHODS: A qualitative methodology using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was conducted within the survivor-research paradigm. The researcher was a person with lived experience of CSA who co-produced the study with CSA survivor advisors and co-constructed interviews with 17 adult CSA survivors. RESULTS: Findings present a "Survivor Trust Enactment Model" that delineates the process of building/repairing relational trust and advancing "transactional trust." Trust is portrayed as nuanced and formed across and according to context, including the demarcation of generalised and relational trust. The findings emphasise that trustees' trustworthiness is key to building trust which challenges assumptions that survivors are deficient in trust. CONCLUSION: The foregrounding of subjective trust experiences challenges diagnostic and clinical views on trust deficiency in adult CSA survivors. The study develops clinical constructs of trust, considers implications for clinical practice, and indicates areas for further research into trust dynamics in therapeutic relationships.

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

BACKGROUND: Numerous national public inquiries have highlighted the problem of child sexual abuse in religious organizations. Despite this, evidence of population-wide prevalence is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To provide the first nationally representative prevalence estimates of child sexual abuse perpetrated by adults in religious organizations in Australia. METHODS: The 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). RESULTS: One 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). CONCLUSIONS: Child 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.

Sexual abuse and dysfunction in people with addiction problems and the general population. A descriptive study.

The fact of having suffered Childhood Sexual Abuse (ASI) is considered a risk factor for the subsequent development of sexual dysfunctions, these being more frequent among women than among men. The objective of this work is to analyze the different sexual dysfunctions in people who have suffered ASI, with addiction problems and in the general population. The sample is made up of 426 participants (241 men and 185 women). A retrospective ex post facto study has been carried out using a sociodemographic data questionnaire (ad hoc) and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). For data analysis, the Kolomogorov-Smirnov and Mann Whitney U tests were performed. The Mann-Whitney U test has been carried out to verify if there are significant differences between the people who present sexual dysfunction, between the groups that have suffered sexual abuse and have addiction problems, and the group that has not suffered sexual abuse and have addiction problems. The results indicate that the variables in which significant differences are found are the following: Dissatisfaction (p = 0.013), Avoidance (p < 0.001), No sensuality (p = 0.008), Vaginismus (p < 0.001), Anorgasmia (p < 0.001), erectile dysfunction (p = 0.045), and premature ejaculation (p = 0.007). The average scores that have been obtained among people who have addiction problems, without having suffered ASI in comparison with those who have suffered it, are the following: Dissatisfaction (5.09 vs. 6.41), Avoidance (2.03 vs. 2.22), No Sensuality (2.96 vs. 4.50), Vaginismus (0.88 vs. 2.94), Anorgasmia (0.97 vs. 3.78), Erectile Dysfunction (2.41 vs. 1.69), Premature Ejaculation (3.60 vs. 2.22). People who have suffered ASI present, with a greater probability, sexual dysfunctions than those who have not suffered it.

A Self-Assessment Tool for Helping Identify Police Burnout Among Investigators of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Introduction: Law enforcement professionals who investigate crimes involving child sexual abuse material face increased risk of mental health challenges, including burnout. This study aims to develop a data-driven self-assessment tool for law enforcement personnel exposed to child sexual abuse material. The tool assesses burnout symptoms and related mental health issues, offering a proactive approach to identifying and supporting individuals at risk. Methods: A mixed-methods investigation involved 500 police investigators and forensic examiners across the U.S. The study utilized a convenience sample recruited through various channels connected with the National Criminal Justice Training Center. Results: Twenty percent of participants exhibited high burnout. The Burnout Self-Assessment Tool demonstrated a sensitivity of 69.6% and specificity of 74.6% at a cut-off point ≥2, correctly classifying 73.6% of the sample. Individuals with scores ≥2 were 3.47 times more likely to be experiencing high burnout than peers with a score of zero, with increasing odds with each additional score. High burnout was associated with longer tenure in current positions. Conclusions: The Burnout Self-Assessment Tool offers a short and simple self-assessment tool for law enforcement professionals exposed to child sexual abuse material, aiding in the early identification of burnout symptoms. A cut-off point ≥2 provides a data-driven strategy for identifying individuals at increased risk, promoting timely intervention and support to mitigate burnout's adverse effects on mental well-being and professional performance. The Burnout Self-Assessment Tool's sensitivity and specificity balance enhances its utility, providing a proactive approach to address the unique mental health challenges faced by law enforcement personnel combating crimes involving child sexual abuse material.

Review of Policies and Practices to Prevent Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations in the United States.

Technology-facilitated child sexual abuse (TF-CSA), or child sexual abuse that occurs online or through electronic communication, is a preventable public health problem that can be addressed within youth-serving organizations (YSOs). This study is a review of a purposive sample of organizational policies and practices designed to prevent TF-CSA collected from 13 national and local YSOs in the United States. Documents were coded to identify practices to prevent TF-CSA related to YSO activities or YSO staff, volunteers, or participants. Qualitative analysis indicated that YSOs included seven common practices to prevent TF-CSA in their documents. These practices included transparent electronic communication between youth and YSO staff; codes of conduct and online behavior agreements related to youth; monitoring the YSO's online presence; parental controls for youth online activity; safety behaviors for online activity for staff, parents, and youth; parent and youth trainings for youth online engagement and prevention of TF-CSA; and practices to address staff policy violations. Most prevention practices documented by YSOs identified in this study are consistent with emerging literature on TF-CSA prevention. Key gaps include protections for youth from groups inequitably burdened by TF-CSA and evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of practices in preventing TF-CSA across settings and populations.

Characteristics and Treatment of Cyberviolence Trauma in Children and Adolescents.

Cyberviolence is a new form of violence encompassing any online activity that results in harm to the psychological, emotional, financial, or physical well-being of an individual or group. These adverse activities often lead to serious offline and long-lasting negative impact, especially on children and adolescents whose development has not matured sufficiently. Therefore, it is more important for mental health professionals to be well informed about the rapidly evolving forms of cyberviolence and its risks and to respond appropriately. This article provides an overview of the concept and unique features of cyberviolence trauma in minors in South Korea while also examining ongoing efforts to explore and implement effective treatment programs. Cyberbullying and digital sexual abuse, the most common forms of cyberviolence experienced by minors in South Korea, are explored in detail. Additionally, this review proposes directions for future research and the efforts that clinicians should focus on.

Child sexual abuse versus adult sexual assault: A review of psychological and neurobiological sequelae.

Sexual trauma (ST) occurs with alarming frequency in the United States (U.S.) in the form of both childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adulthood sexual assault (ASA). It is well-established that the effects of ST are pervasive, and that ST can be a risk factor for the development of several psychiatric disorders. However, the potential for distinct psychological consequences or neural correlates between CSA and ASA has received little attention. Furthermore, despite the high prevalence of sexual revictimization, the combinatorial effects of CSA and ASA are understudied in comparison to each form of ST on its own. In the current review, we present results from both clinical psychology and neuroscience research on the impacts of CSA and ASA, describing major psychological, biopsychosocial, and neuroimaging findings for each form of ST. We further highlight limitations in the current state of the research and needed areas of future research to better understand the distinct, overlapping, and cumulative effects of ST in both childhood and adulthood. The present study summarizes the state of the literature on this critical form of trauma and provides recommendations for future clinical research practices to mitigate the deleterious outcomes of ST.

Giving Women the Benefit of the Doubt? Examining Gender Differences in Schools' Management of Sexual Allegations Against Employees.

Comparing women's and men's sexual offending patterns in educational settings is a relatively recent empirical endeavor. Accordingly, gender-based examinations of schools' management of sexual allegations are lacking. We address this gap by drawing on a unique administrative dataset from an Australian jurisdiction that captures alleged improper sexual conduct by educational employees. We compare 809 female- and male-perpetrated cases reported between 2015 and 2019 with respect to event, location, victim, and perpetrator characteristics, as well as the ensuing risk management strategies and sanctions. Compared to men, reported women were younger, employed on more secure employment arrangements, and less often had a relevant discipline history. Most alleged event characteristics did not significantly differ based on perpetrator gender. Women's alleged perpetration, however, more often occurred in places external to school and involved more serious sexual victimization of comparatively older male students. After controlling for event, victim, perpetrator, and allegation characteristics there was nearly no support for a gender bias in institutional responses. However, a lack of any action was more often observed in female-perpetrated cases under very specific and limited conditions. Resultant implications for the management and oversight of employee-related allegations are discussed.

Effectiveness of school-based interventions on child sexual abuse knowledge in children with disabilities: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Children with disabilities (CWDs) constitute a substantial segment of the population who encounter abuse, emphasizing the need to comprehend the influence of school-based interventions on this susceptible group. AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify and evaluate the effectiveness of school-based interventions in enhancing child sexual abuse (CSA) knowledge among CWDs. PARTICIPANTS: This meta-analysis incorporated seven published studies, encompassing 387 CWDs. METHODS: Our study synthesizes findings from seven experimental and quasi-experimental studies, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. The study was registered in PROSPERO. The literature search, conducted between September 25, 2023, and October 2, 2023, employed various databases and keywords relevant to the study's scope. The research question and articles' eligibility were assessed using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study type (PICOs). The meta-analysis was conducted using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. RESULTS: The school-based intervention greatly impacted CWDs' CSA knowledge scores (Hedges's g = 1.026 [95% CI: 0.845; 1.208], z = 11.074, p = 0.000). The findings of this meta-analysis demonstrate that Questionnaire/scale-based knowledge measurement (Hedges's g = 2.586 [95% CI: 0.920; 4.252], z = 3.043, P = 0.002) and Vignette-based knowledge measurement (Hedges's g = 1.065 [95% CI: 0.655; 1.474], z = 5.100, p = 0.000) are effective in assessing CWDs' knowledge of CSA. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled studies and quasi-experimental studies provide robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of school-based interventions in significantly enhancing CSA knowledge among CWDs. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: These findings are potentially significant evidence for education professionals, including educators and school health nurses.

Accessing child sexual abuse material: Pathways to offending and online behaviour.

BACKGROUND: Most research examining the consumption of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has focused on offenders' demographic and psychological characteristics. While such research may assist in the development of therapeutic interventions with known offenders, it has little to offer the development of interventions for the vast majority of offenders who are never caught. OBJECTIVE: To learn more about the offending strategies of CSAM offenders, in order to inform prevention efforts to deter, disrupt, and divert individuals from their pursuit of CSAM. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: Seventy-five male CSAM offenders, who were living in the community and were voluntarily participating in a treatment programme. METHODS: Participants completed a detailed self-report questionnaire focussing on their pathways to offending and their online behaviour. RESULTS: Most participants reported that they did not initially seek out CSAM but that they first encountered it inadvertently or became curious after viewing legal pornography. Their involvement in CSAM subsequently progressed over time and their offending generally became more serious. The most notable feature of participants' online behaviour was the relative lack of sophisticated technical expertise. Opportunity and other situational factors emerged as mediators of offending frequency. Offending patterns were affected by participants' psychological states (e.g., depression, anger, stress), offline relationships and commitments (e.g., arguments with spouse, loss of job), and online experiences (e.g., blocked sites, viruses, warning messages). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that many offenders are receptive to change and may be potentially diverted from their offending pathway.

From percentages to narratives: Giving silence a voice in child sexual abuse within the Portuguese Catholic Church, 1950-2022.

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades, several studies have examined the extent and expression of child sexual abuse (CSA) in religious institutions. In 2021, following new Vatican guidelines and under intense public pressure, the Portuguese Episcopal Conference commissioned a study on CSA in Portugal by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church (PCC) and others associated with it (from 1950 to 2022). OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The study draws on a web-based survey and a respondent driven sample. The questionnaire included categorical questions about victims, abusers, types of abuse, and open-ended questions. We characterized victims and abusers and developed a social cartography of abuse using Correspondence Analysis. Victims' narratives are also part of the model of analysis. RESULTS: We validated 512 of CSA by members of the PCC. Boys were more frequently abused (57.2 % vs. 42.2 %); male abusers predominate (96.7 %); most victims were abused more than once (57 %); the average age of victims when the first abuse occurred was 11.2 years. More invasive forms of abuse predominate (80 % manipulation of sexual organs or penetration; only 20 % had no body touching). There are patterns of abuse, and space plays a pivotal role in understanding the forms that CSA takes within Catholic environments. The richness of individual narratives was an unexpected outcome that enables us to better understand the organisational and symbolical power structures in which abuse takes place. CONCLUSION: Given the characteristics of our sample, these cases are the tip of the iceberg, with CSA within the PCC likely involved thousands of children. Further research should strive to consider victims' narratives.

Validation of the Revised Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interests (SSPI-2) in Portugal.

The accurate assessment of pedophilic sexual interests is crucial for the treatment and management of individuals who have sexually offended children. This study aimed to validate the Revised Screening Scale for Pedophilic Interests (SSPI-2) in a Portuguese sample of 170 men convicted of sexual offenses against children, 104 serving sentences in the community, and 66 in prison. The findings indicated that SSPI-2 demonstrated good convergent validity, as evidenced by its significant and positive associations with the "sexual deviance" item of SVR-20, the number of previous convictions for sexual crimes against children, and having 3 or more child victims, which is associated with high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing men who show greater sexual arousal to children than to adults. Furthermore, the SSPI-2 exhibited good divergent validity, with no significant correlations observed with a self-report measure of psychopathy or with a nonsexual criminal history.

False memories in forensic psychology: do cognition and brain activity tell the same story?

One of the most important problems in forensic psychology is the impossibility of reliably discriminating between true and false memories when the only prosecution evidence comes from the memory of a witness or a victim. Unfortunately, both children and adults can be persuaded that they have been victims of past criminal acts, usually of a sexual nature. In adults, suggestion often occurs in the context of suggestive therapies based on the belief that traumatic events are repressed, while children come to believe and report events that never occurred as a result of repeated suggestive questioning. Cognitive Researchers have designed false memory paradigms (i.e., misinformation effect, Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm, event implantation paradigm) to first form false memories and then determine whether it is possible to reliably differentiate between false and true memories. In the present study, we review the contribution of cognitive research to the formation of false memories and the neuropsychological approaches aimed to discriminate between true and false memories. Based on these results, we analyze the applicability of the cognitive and neuropsychological evidence to the forensic setting.

The Impact of Training on Nurses' Attitudes Toward Reporting Child Sexual Abuse: a Pilot Study.

The purpose of this project is to assess, for practicing pediatric nurses in the U.S., what is the impact of the Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) program on their attitudes about reporting suspected CSA. A sample size of 32 nurses completed an online 2-hour continuing education course by Stewards of Children, with a pre/post-test survey. A modified 14-item version of the Teachers Reporting Attitudes Scale for Child Sexual Abuse (TRAS-CSA) was used to measure the nurses' attitudes before and after educational training. The surveys were analyzed to assess changes in attitudes using two-tailed sign tests. Nurses' commitment to reporting CSA is high, even before training. Nurses' confidence in the system of reporting and in the response of authorities related to CSA increased after taking the Stewards of Children online course. While these results are limited in strength by low sample sizes and some null changes, they indicate that trainings like the Stewards of Children course can positively impact nurses' attitudes towards reporting CSA, particularly with regards to confidence in reporting, and therefore warrant further investigation into CSA training for nurses and its effects. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-023-00581-7.

Examining Parental Abilities to Recognize Sexual Grooming Behaviors of Child Sexual Abusers.

PURPOSE: Identifying sexual grooming behaviors holds potential to reduce the occurrence of child sexual abuse (CSA) and increase disclosure rates. Given the influential role parents play in CSA prevention and the lack of previous research examining parent-specific sexual grooming recognition abilities, this study examined both generalized adult (i.e., parent and nonparent) and parent special abilities to recognize sexual grooming behaviors as identified in the Sexual Grooming Model (SGM), as well as the relationship between reported confidence in recognition abilities and measured abilities. METHODS: The current study used an experimental vignette design among a sample of 420 parents and 445 nonparents to measure abilities to associate sexual grooming behaviors with CSA. Participants also rated how confident they felt in their abilities to recognize signs of sexual grooming. RESULTS: Parental status did not have a significant impact on sexual grooming recognition abilities. However, the sample as a whole (i.e., parents and nonparents combined) were more likely to recognize sexual grooming when presented with behaviors from all of the SGM's stages or behaviors related to desensitization to touch and sexual content. Participant confidence in their recognition abilities did not predict measured abilities. CONCLUSION: Regardless of parental status, the sample did not strongly associate sexual grooming behaviors with CSA perpetration except when behaviors related to sexual content and physical touch were presented. This suggests heightened associations of more overt sexual grooming behaviors with CSA. The discrepancy found between confidence and recognition abilities calls for targeted educational efforts to increase awareness in types of behaviors that may be indicative of abuse.

The Need for a Prevention Program for Child Sexual Abuse in Brazil: A Report of Shortfall Care to Pedophilia and its Critical Consequences.

From a case report of a person with pedophilic disorder, this paper focuses on the issue of pedophilia, child sexual abuse, and the need for specific prevention and treatment strategies in Brazil. It seems inevitable to increase awareness for this topic within the mental health care system to protect children and reduce the risk for sexual offense in individuals at-risk. This is a case report of an individual, known by medical-psychiatric and forensic facilities for a past history of patricide, who revealed his pedophilic fantasies and behavior belatedly. To assess a pedophilic disorder and screen for other paraphilic contents, a screening questionnaire and clinical interview were used during the patient hospitalization in 2020 for a proper evaluation of sexual history and past offending behaviors. A review of the literature on pedophilia prevention programs was also carried out. WW is a middle-aged man admitted to a psychiatric unit for a severe episode of major depressive disorder and at risk of suicide. During recovery, he reported pedophilic fantasies and behaviors in his life. Sexual fantasies involving children and actual sexual offenses have remained unknown to mental health professionals and unreported to legal authorities. WW's case alarmingly emphasizes the need for the training of health care professionals and for preventive strategies in Brazil for those who are at risk of engaging in offending sexual behaviors in a combined and intensive effort to protect children from sexual offense.

Unveiling Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure in China: An Ecological Exploration of Survivors' Experiences.

Through a thematic analysis of firsthand posts from 258 abuse survivors in online forums from 2016 to 2023, this research examines the barriers that Chinese children encounter when disclosing sexual abuse. The anonymous narratives shed light on the motives behind survivors' reluctance to reveal abuse, the outcomes following disclosure, and the wider implications for survivors and their families under culture. The findings underscore the need for early intervention upon disclosure, aiming to safeguard children from further harm and foster the development of an effective child protection framework.

Public perception of individuals who commit Child Sexual Abuse Material offences: Exploring the impact of demographic variables and cross-national differences.

BACKGROUND: Lay perceptions of persons who download and distribute Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is an underexplored subject. There is a need for understanding the factors that influence perceptions as the public perceptions have implications for endorsement of sex offender rehabilitation that in turn can influence the availability of treatment programs and stigma for help-seeking. OBJECTIVE: To explore public perceptions of individuals that commit child sexual abuse offences, to compare the results to those obtained in a large US sample, and to explore associations between demographic variables, general perceptions and endorsement of imprisonment and treatment for individuals that commit CSAM offences. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: An online survey were distributed in Norway in February 2023. 618 individuals responded, 76 % were female, mean age 34.99 (SD = 14.23), the majority (>70 %) had higher education, and 44 % had children. RESULTS: Consistent with prior research, the public perceptions overestimated the risk of future contact offences and recidivism. Women overestimated the percentage of risk of contact offences and pedophilic interest more than men. The overestimation was significantly less in this sample compared to the US sample (d = 0.39-0.96). Those working with online child abuse had perceptions of persons committing CSAM offences that were more aligned with empirical findings. Demographic variables were only marginally associated with endorsement for treatment and imprisonment, except for having children, which was associated with endorsement of imprisonment. Perceived risk of contact offences, pedophilic preference, and assumed childhood sexual victimization were associated with perceptions of individuals committing CSAM offences as different than those committing physical sexual abuse and both endorsement of treatment and imprisonment. CONCLUSIONS: The perceptions of those who commit CSAM offences showed a stronger association with endorsement for treatment and imprisonment than demographic variables.