The prevalence of sexual grooming behaviors among survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Childhood sexual abuse
Investigation
Prevalence
Prevention
Prosecution
Sexual grooming
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
25 Jul 2024
25 Jul 2024
Historique:
received:
12
02
2024
revised:
15
04
2024
accepted:
03
05
2024
medline:
27
7
2024
pubmed:
27
7
2024
entrez:
26
7
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem that is preventable. Sexual grooming behaviors have been deemed an integral part of CSA for the purpose of avoiding detection and preventing disclosure. Many of these behaviors are reported more often by adults who experienced CSA as compared to those that did not (Jeglic et al., 2023). Such behaviors form important targets for prevention efforts, as well as the investigation and prosecution of CSA. Consequently, it is important to identify the prevalence rates of sexual grooming behaviors. The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of sexual grooming as reported by adult survivors of CSA. A large sample of adults who reported a history of CSA (n = 1045) completed the study online via Prolific. Participants completed an anonymous self-report survey which included the Sexual Grooming Scale - Victim Version (Winters & Jeglic, 2022). Overall, 99% of participants endorsed experiencing at least one sexual grooming behavior, with an average of 14.25 sexual grooming behaviors out of a possible 42 (range = 0-36) reported per survivor. Participants endorsed behaviors across all five stages of the sexual grooming process: victim selection, gaining access and isolation, trust development, desensitization, and post-abuse maintenance. The most frequently reported sexual grooming behaviors included the perpetrator selecting a child who was compliant/trusting (68%) or had low self-esteem (61%); arranging activities alone with the child (57%); presenting themselves as nice/charming/likeable (70%); showing the child large amounts of attention (56%) or affection (54%); and using seemingly innocent touch (51%). Sexual grooming is prevalent based on reports from adult survivors of CSA. These findings will be discussed as they pertain to the prevention, detection, and prosecution of CSA.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a global problem that is preventable. Sexual grooming behaviors have been deemed an integral part of CSA for the purpose of avoiding detection and preventing disclosure. Many of these behaviors are reported more often by adults who experienced CSA as compared to those that did not (Jeglic et al., 2023). Such behaviors form important targets for prevention efforts, as well as the investigation and prosecution of CSA. Consequently, it is important to identify the prevalence rates of sexual grooming behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of sexual grooming as reported by adult survivors of CSA.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
METHODS
A large sample of adults who reported a history of CSA (n = 1045) completed the study online via Prolific.
METHODS
METHODS
Participants completed an anonymous self-report survey which included the Sexual Grooming Scale - Victim Version (Winters & Jeglic, 2022).
RESULTS
RESULTS
Overall, 99% of participants endorsed experiencing at least one sexual grooming behavior, with an average of 14.25 sexual grooming behaviors out of a possible 42 (range = 0-36) reported per survivor. Participants endorsed behaviors across all five stages of the sexual grooming process: victim selection, gaining access and isolation, trust development, desensitization, and post-abuse maintenance. The most frequently reported sexual grooming behaviors included the perpetrator selecting a child who was compliant/trusting (68%) or had low self-esteem (61%); arranging activities alone with the child (57%); presenting themselves as nice/charming/likeable (70%); showing the child large amounts of attention (56%) or affection (54%); and using seemingly innocent touch (51%).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Sexual grooming is prevalent based on reports from adult survivors of CSA. These findings will be discussed as they pertain to the prevention, detection, and prosecution of CSA.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39059229
pii: S0145-2134(24)00232-1
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106842
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
106842Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.