Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children: The Influence of Transgressions of Interpersonal Boundaries and Family Adversity Across Generations.

Problematic sexual behavior (PSBs) in children have been linked to difficulties or challenges within the family environment. Despite this association, few studies have examined how interpersonal boundary transgressions influence children's PSBs. Based on a sample of 112 parent-child dyads recruited before undergoing PSB-focused psychotherapy, this study first aims to explore the concept of sexual, physical, and emotional boundary transgressions within the current family environment in relation to reported levels of PSBs. The study further investigates the connections between parents' current boundary transgressions and their past and present family environments. Bivariate analyses revealed a positive correlation between heightened levels of interpersonal boundary transgressions and increased PBS, alongside elevated externalized behaviors. Two hierarchical linear regression models were employed: one to predict children's PSB scores with boundary transgressions as a predictor, and another to predict current boundary transgressions within the family environment. Results showed that current boundary transgressions within the family predicted the level of PSBs. However, once the child's externalized behaviors were considered, boundary transgressions ceased to be significant. Regarding the parents, transgression of interpersonal boundaries within the current family environment was associated with exposure to higher levels of interpersonal boundary transgressions during their childhood, current socioeconomic status, and a higher level of parental psychological distress. Keywords: problematic sexual behavior, PSBs, transgression of interpersonal boundaries, conceptual model, victimization experiences, intergenerational cycle.

A meta-analysis of trends in general, sexual, and violent recidivism among youth with histories of sex offending.

Recent research suggests that sexual recidivism rates have been declining, which contrasts with observations regarding general recidivism rates as well as perceptions of sexual reoffending risk. If sexual recidivism rates are in decline, it raises fundamental policy questions about the youth justice system's tendency to operate on the assumption that juvenile sexual offending is a risk marker for sexual reoffending in adulthood. A systematic review and a quantitative meta-analysis were conducted to determine the general, violent, and sexual recidivism rates of adolescent perpetrators of sexual offenses with data stemming from studies published worldwide between 1940 and 2019. A total of 158 empirical studies including 30,396 adolescent perpetrators of sexual offenses were retrieved to examine estimates of general, violent, and sexual recidivism. The study findings highlight that the risk of general recidivism (weighted pooled mean = .44) is substantially higher than violent (weighted pooled mean = .18) and sexual recidivism (weighted pooled mean = .08). The study did not observe convincing evidence that sexual recidivism rates for adolescent perpetrators are declining, but rather that these rates have been consistently low over the years. There was strong evidence that multiple study characteristics moderate the recidivism rates observed. Given the low weighted pooled sexual recidivism rate reported in the study, the use of adult-like strategies to increase public safety and prevent sexual recidivism seems misguided, not only because sexual recidivism is unlikely, but also because such strategies are not developed to address general criminogenic needs that may explain general recidivism rates observed.

A Longitudinal Examination of Developmental Covariates of Sexual Behavior Problems among Youth Referred to Child Protection Services.

Little is known about the development of childhood sexual behavior problems (SBP) in terms of continuity and discontinuity into adolescence. Prior studies have espoused a nondevelopmental approach focusing on the clinical profiles of these youths at the time of their referral. To address this gap, the current study proposes an examination of the developmental covariates involved in the continuity of SBP among a sample of 340 children and adolescents referred to Child Protection Services (CPS) in Quebec, Canada. Children's CPS contacts from birth up to age 17 were inspected, allowing to recreate the life history of social and familial adversities during that period. Logistic regression models were performed and helped to identify developmental covariates of childhood-onset SBP and its persistence into adolescence. Findings suggest that children with childhood-onset SBP that persisted into adolescence have experienced various life adversities. The study findings provide some preliminary evidence of the developmental pathways of SBP.

Early life adversities and polyvictimization in young persons with sexual behavior problems: A longitudinal study of child protective service referrals.

There is scarce research on children and youth with sexual behavior problems (SBP) and their developmental antecedents and the research that does exist is mostly retrospective and correlational. While prior research focused on the central role of sexual victimization, recent research suggests that young persons with SBP are exposed to a series of adversities not limited to child sexual victimization and require multifaceted assessment and intervention using a developmental life course perspective. The current study includes an examination of the complete longitudinal sequence of child protective service (CPS) investigations involving young persons with SBP. The study is based on a sample of 957 youth referred to the CPS in Quebec, Canada. The data include their longitudinal sequence of referrals from birth to age 18. Semi-parametric analyses identified four trajectories of referrals with significant differences in terms of onset, frequency, types of life adversity, and polyvictimization. The trajectories suggest that a range of developmental profiles characterize young persons with SBP, with SBP often occurring after CPS contacts for compromising issues other than sexual victimization, especially parental neglect and serious behavior problems. Of importance, polyvictimization was relatively common for this group throughout childhood and adolescence, which highlights the multiintervention needs of this population.