Risk Factors for Sexual Offending in Men Working with Children: A Community-Based Survey

Identifying risk factors for sexual abuse in men who work with children and who have already abused a child could lead to more appropriate screening and prevention strategies and is thus of major scientific and societal relevance. 

A total of 8649 German men from the community were assessed in an extensive anonymous and confidential online survey. Of those, 37 (0.4 %) could be classified as child sexual abusers working with children, 90 (1.0 %) as child sexual abusers not working with children, and 816 (9.4 %) as men who work with children and who have not abused a child. 

We assessed the impact of working with children as an individual risk factor for self-reported child sexual abuse and compared personal factors, pedophilic sexual fantasies, deviant sexual behaviors, antisocial behaviors, and hypersexuality among the three groups. Most interestingly, working with children was significantly associated with a self-reported sexual offense against children; however, it explained only three percent of its variance. 

Child sexual abusers working with children admitted more antisocial and more sexually deviant behaviors than child sexual abusers not working with children and than men working with children who have not abused a child. 

Our findings support some of the suggestions made by other researchers concerning factors that could be considered in applicants for child- or youth-serving institutions. However, it has to be pointed out that the scientific basis still seems premature.

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By:  Turner D1, Hoyer J2, Schmidt AF3, Klein V4, Briken P4.

• 1Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. turner.daniel@gmx.de.
• 2Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
• 3Institute for Health and Behaviour, Health Promotion and Aggression Prevention, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
• 4Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
• Arch Sex Behav. 2016 May 16.

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Fantasy-Driven versus Contact-Driven Users of Child Sexual Exploitation Material: Offender Classification and Implications for Their Risk Assessment

Since the advent of the Internet, convictions for the possession, display, trading, and distribution of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) have risen steadily, but little is known about their appropriate assessment and treatment, especially concerning their risk of reoffending. It has been suggested that a conceptual distinction of fantasy- versus contact-driven CSEM users might be of merit. 

Sixty-eight offenders recruited from sex offender treatment providers were assessed via an anonymous computer survey including a variety of clinical and risk-related variables; the findings showed differences in the psychological profiles between CSEM users and contact child sex offenders. Numerical and spatial methods of data analysis were used to identify subgroups of CSEM users; these confirmed the twofold distinction of fantasy- versus contact-driven offending. 

The spatial representation of participants identified three dimensions as crucial in the classification of these subgroups: direct sexual contact with a minor, possession of fantasy-generating material, and social contact with other users with a sexual interest in minors; potentially differentiating distinct offender subgroups with different risks and needs. 

The current study informed the development of an empirical model of CSEM users that could aid in the assessment of risk of reoffending and cross-over to contact sex offending.

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By:  Merdian HL1, Moghaddam N2, Boer DP3, Wilson N4, Thakker J3, Curtis C3, Dawson D2.

• 1University of Lincoln, UK hmerdian@lincoln.ac.uk.
• 2University of Lincoln, UK.
• 3The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
• 4Department of Corrections, Hamilton, New Zealand. 
• Sex Abuse. 2016 Apr 6. pii: 1079063216641109.

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Early Parenting Styles & Sexual Offending Behavior: A Comparative Study

Sexual offenders, in general, report problematic rearing practices from their parents, lacking however more empirical research on this topic regarding particular subtypes of offenders. 

The current study examined the relationship between early parenting styles and different types of sexual offending. A total of 113 sexual offenders (rapists, pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters), and 51 nonsexual offenders completed the EMBU (My Memories of Upbringing), the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Socially Desirable Response Set Measure. 

Results showed that rapists were less likely to remember their fathers as being emotionally warm compared with nonsexual offenders and pedophilic child molesters. In addition, compared with rapists, pedophilic offenders perceived their mothers as having been less emotionally warm to them. 

Overall, results showed that certain developmental experiences with parents were able to distinguish between subtypes of offenders supporting an association between distal interpersonal factors and sexual offending.

These findings may have important implications for early intervention and prevention of sexual crimes. Further research using larger samples of pedophilic child molesters is recommended.

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By:  Sigre-Leirós V1, Carvalho J2, Nobre PJ3.

• 1Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: vera.sigre.leiros@gmail.com.
• 2Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal.
• 3Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. 
• Int J Law Psychiatry. 2016 Mar 24. pii: S0160-2527(16)30055-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2016.02.042.

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General Characteristics of Child Sexual Offenders in Hatay, Turkey

Objective:

Child sexual offenders are a poorly studied and relatively neglected population in our country. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between criminal behavior and socio-demographic characteristics of a series of child sexual offenders.

Materials and Methods:

The records of social worker interviews with 48 child sexual offenders between 2009 and 2013 were used. The reports issued by social workers regarding child sexual offenders were retrospectively examined, since these reports were relatively the most thorough documents including offenders’ personal and familial characteristics, and criminal event information. Cases were investigated in terms of socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics.

Results:

There were 48 children interviewed based on an alleged sexual crime, during four-year of study period. All of the cases were male and their ages ranged between 12 and 17 years. Of these, 50% were students at any grade of school. Five cases were living in social service facilities. Only two cases involved incest. Of all, three offenders were accused of repeated sexual crimes. Type of sexual assault was anal penetration in 20 (41.7%) cases. Of all cases, 19 were cigarette smoker, while 4 were drug abusers. The families of 12 (25%) cases suffered from low socio-economic status, while 23 (47.9%) offenders were members of broken families. According to social worker reports, 47 cases had criminal responsibility based on their psychosocial development. Out of all cases, 7 children were suspected of suffering from impulse control disorder and one was suspected to be mentally retarded. Twelve cases were reported to need consulting and social protective services.

Conclusion:

The rate of offenders with interrupted education was considerably high. Interestingly the number of male victims and the frequency of cases involving anal penetration were high. Obtained results suggest that male children of broken and scattered families, and particularly those lacking father’s supervision were more likely to commit a sexual crime.

Types of sexual acts committed by child sexual offenders

Crime types	n	%
Rape
➢ Anal penetration to a boy (Sodomy)	19	39.6
➢ Rape to a girl	20	41.7
➢ Anal penetration to a girl (Sodomy)	1	2.1
Touching a girl	7	14.6
Touching a boy	1	2.1
Total	48	100

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/hc9Gmw

By:  M. Mustafa Arslan,1 D. Sumeyra Demirkiran,1 Ramazan Akcan,2 Cem Zeren,1 and M. Hanifi Kokacya3

¹Department of Forensic Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey

²Department of Forensic Medicine, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

³Department of Psychiatry, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey

This article was presented as a poster in World Forensic Festival, South Korea, 2014.

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Sexual Violence Against Female and Male Children in the United Republic of Tanzania

During a household survey in Tanzania, a nationally representative sample of females and males aged 13-24 years reported any experiences of sexual violence that occurred before the age of 18 years. The authors explore the prevalence, circumstances, and health outcomes associated with childhood sexual violence. 

The results suggest that violence against children in Tanzania is pervasive, with roughly three in 10 females and one in eight males experiencing some form of childhood sexual violence, and its health consequences are severe. 

Results are being used by the Tanzanian government to implement a National Plan of Action.

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By:  Vagi KJ1, Brookmeyer KA2, Gladden RM2, Chiang LF2, Brooks A3, Nyunt MZ4, Kwesigabo G5, Mercy JA2, Dahlberg LL2.

• 1U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA kvagi@cdc.gov.
• 2U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
• 3UNICEF Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre/West and Central Africa Regional Office, Dakar-Yoff, Sénégal.
• 4United Nations Children's Fund, Laos.
• 5Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 
• Violence Against Women. 2016 Mar 14. pii: 1077801216634466

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Children's Knowledge of Sexual Abuse Prevention in El Salvador

BACKGROUND:

Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a global health problem that must be addressed. In a country with limited resources such as El Salvador, we sought an alternative way to disseminate CSA prevention information to elementary school children.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention exhibit at a children's museum.

METHODS:

We asked 189 children to answer a questionnaire about CSA prevention before entering a museum exhibit on the subject and then asked 59 different children to answer the questionnaire after visiting the exhibit.

FINDINGS:

Children's knowledge scores on CSA prevention significantly improved after visiting the exhibit (P < .012).

CONCLUSIONS:

A museum exhibit that addresses CSA prevention is an effective way of communicating CSA prevention to children.

Children's Answers to Knowledge Questionnaire Pre– and Post–Museum Visit (all ages) and P Values for Correct Answers

Question	Pre-visit	Post-visit (P-value)
Q1. “My body belongs to me”
Yes (%)	89.9	98.3 (.038)
No (%)	10.1	1.7
Q2. “What should you do if someone tries to touch you or looks at you in a manner that scares or makes you feel bad?”
I would scream NO and get away (%)	73.4	88.1 (.018)
I would tell someone until later (%)	11.6	11.9
I would say nothing (%)	15	2.4
Q3. “Why is it important to tell if someone tries to touch you or looks at you in a manner that scares or makes you feel bad?”
Because I have not done anything wrong and I have the right to ask for help (%)	86.7	96.1 (.033)
It is not important to tell or I do not know (%)	13.3	3.4
Q4. What are a girl's private parts?
vulva, vagina, buttocks and breast (%)	93.6	100 (.045)
face, arms (%)	4	0
Q5. What are a boy's private parts?
penis, testicles, buttocks (%)	95.2	100 (.086)
knees, teeth (%)	4.8	0

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/2BV0qY

By:  Hurtado A, Katz CL, Ciro D, Guttfreund D, Nosike D.

¹Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY

²Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY

³Global Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY

⁴Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY

Ann Glob Health. 2014 Mar-Apr;80(2):103-7. doi: 10.1016/j.aogh.2014.04.004.

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Non-Homicidal and Homicidal Sexual Offenders: Prevalence of Maladaptive Personality Traits and Paraphilic Behaviors

This study aims to examine the psychopathological profile of non-homicidal sexual offenders (NHSOs) and homicidal sexual offenders (HSOs). 

Using an incarcerated sample of 96 NHSOs and 74 HSOs in a federal penitentiary in Canada, these offenders are compared in terms of their offending process, maladaptive personality traits, and paraphilic behaviors. A number of cross-tabular and sequential logistic regression analyses are performed. 

Relative to their counterpart, findings indicate that a higher percentage of HSOs select a victim of choice, report deviant sexual fantasies, mutilate their victim, and admit to their offense upon apprehension, whereas a higher percentage of NHSOs select victims with distinctive characteristics. In addition, a higher percentage of HSOs manifest paranoid, schizotypal, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, and impulsive personality traits, and overall odd and eccentric personality traits compared with NHSOs. 

Similarly, a higher percentage of HSOs engage in exhibitionism, fetishism, frotteurism, homosexual pedophilia, sexual masochism, and partialism compared with NHSO. 

These findings are discussed with their implications for offender profiling.

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By:  Chan HC1, Beauregard E2.

• 1City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR oliverchan.ss@cityu.edu.hk.
• 2Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2015 Mar 27. pii: 0886260515575606

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Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse in the Nordic Countries: A Literature Review

This review examined child sexual abuse in the Nordic countries focusing on prevalence rates and victims' age and relationship to the perpetrator. 

The results show a prevalence of child sexual abuse (broadly defined) between 3-23% for boys and 11-36% for girls. 

The prevalence rates for contact abuse were 1-12% for boys and 6-30% for girls, while 0.3-6.8% of the boys and 1.1-13.5% of the girls reported penetrating abuse. 

The findings suggest an increased risk of abuse from early adolescence. In adolescence, peers may constitute the largest group of perpetrators. 

The results highlight the need for preventive efforts also targeting peer abuse. Future research should include cross-national and repeated studies using comparable methodology.

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By:  Kloppen K¹, Haugland S², Svedin CG³, Mæhle M⁴, Breivik K².

¹ Department of Economics , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway.

² Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, Uni Research Health , Bergen , Norway.

³ Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , Linköping University , Linköping , Sweden.

⁴ Department of Social Science , Sogn og Fjordane University College , Sogndal , Norway.

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Beauty and the Eye of the Beholder: Gender and Attractiveness Affect Judgments in Teacher Sex Offense Cases

The present study investigated the effects of gender and attractiveness on judgments of bail requirements, incarceration, and sex offender registration lengths, and attitudes toward offenders and victims in a teacher-student sexual perpetration scenario. 

Researchers presented 432 undergraduate students at a large southwestern university with one of four vignettes detailing a sexual relationship between a 35-year-old teacher and a 14-year-old student. Vignettes varied by both attractiveness and gender of the offender (using heterosexual offender-victim dyads). 

Results indicate that both gender and attractiveness affect judgments of sex offenders; specifically, female sexual offenders were viewed more leniently and judged less punitively than male sexual offenders. Although attractive female sexual offenders were given particularly lenient treatment, attractiveness did not affect judgments toward male sex offenders. In addition, although male and female participants tended to rate male offenders similarly, male participants were more lenient toward female offenders than were female participants. 

Finally, post hoc analyses revealed that, for many variables, unattractive female sexual offenders may not be viewed differently from male sexual offenders. These results have serious implications for the legal system, sex offender management, and societal views regarding male and female sexual offenders and their victims.

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By:  Mackelprang E1, Becker JV2.

• 1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA emimack@email.arizona.edu.
• 2University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. 

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Unacknowledged Rape: The Influences of Child Sexual Abuse and Personality Traits

Evidence supports that the majority of young women who experience sexual victimization that meets the legal definition of rape do not label their experiences as rape-this has been termed unacknowledged rape. 

In a sample of 77 young adult women, the odds of unacknowledged rape significantly increased as a function of less severe child sexual abuse histories and greater levels of dysfunctional personality traits. Potential explanations for these findings as well as clinical implications are discussed. 

Because of the potential psychological and societal consequences of unacknowledged rape, it is vital that researchers continue to examine this phenomenon.

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By:  Wilson LC1, Scarpa A2.

• 1 Department of Psychological Science , University of Mary Washington , Fredericksburg , Virginia , USA.
• 2 Psychology Department , Virginia Tech , Blacksburg , Virginia , USA. 
• J Child Sex Abus. 2015 Nov-Dec;24(8):975-90. doi: 10.1080/10538712.2015.1082002.

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The Role of Forensic Factors and Potential Harm to the Child in the Decision Not to Act among Men Sexually Attracted to Children

To date, sexual abuse prevention efforts have largely focused on tertiary prevention strategies designed to prevent recidivism among forensic samples of men with a history of sex offending behavior. 

The present study used mixed methodology to investigate the role of several forensic and related factors on the decision not to commit a sex offense among two groups of community men who self-reported a sexual attraction to children: those who reported a history of acting on their attractions (Acted, n = 29) and those who reported never acting on their attractions (Not Acted, n = 71). 

Participants from both groups described in their own words the factors that contributed to their decision not to act on their attractions. They also responded to quantitative and qualitative questions regarding the influence and role of the following factors on their decision not to act: 

1. the possibility of jail or punishment,
2. mental health treatment, and 
3. not wanting to hurt the child. 

Results were compared across groups, and across prompted and unprompted responses. Analyses highlighted harm to the child as a particularly salient factor in the decision not to act among men in the community at risk for sexually offending. 

The present study suggests that investigating potential protective factors may be an important direction for future research among samples of community men at risk for both first-time and repeat offenses against children.

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By:  Mitchell RC¹, Galupo MP².

¹Towson University (http://www.towson.edu/), MD, USA.

²Towson University, MD, USA pgalupo@towson.edu.

J Interpers Violence. 2016 Jan 12. pii: 0886260515624211.

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Being Sexually Attracted to Minors: Sexual Development, Coping with Forbidden Feelings & Relieving Sexual Arousal in Self-Identified Pedophiles

This article aims to provide more insight into pedophilic attraction and risk and protective factors for offending in nonclinical pedophiles. Fifteen participants were interviewed about sexuality, coping, and sexual self-regulation. 

Many participants struggled with acknowledging pedophilic interest in early puberty and experienced psychological difficulties as a result. Furthermore, many committed sex offenses during adolescence when they were still discovering their feelings. 

Early recognition of risk factors and early start of interventions seem vital in preventing offending. Moreover, results suggest that risk for offending can be diminished by creating more openness about pedophilia and by providing pedophiles with social support and control...

Background Characteristics

Nine participants were highly educated (i.e., had either a bachelor's or master's degree), two received intermediate vocational education, two only finished high school, and two had less than a high school education. Three were married or in a relationship at the time of the interviews, and two were divorced. Five participants had never been involved in a serious adult relationship. Three participants reported having children.

Two of the 15 participants could better be described as having hebephilic feelings. Aside from the distinction between being attracted to prepubescent or pubescent children, there was still large variation in preferred sexual age orientation between participants. For example, some participants with an interest in prepubescent minors acknowledged being sexually attracted to children from 5 years old, whereas others preferred minors who were in the transition to puberty. Furthermore, not all participants had an exclusive sexual interest in children; nine were also attracted to adult males and/or adult females. Finally, eight participants were solely attracted to boys, three to girls, and four were attracted to both sexes.

Seven participants had experienced mental health problems. They were often troubled with feelings of anxiety, depression, and inferiority. For three participants, mental health issues started after the age of 16. The remaining four had already experienced mental health issues early in life.

Sexual Development

Onset of Pedophilic Feelings

Eleven participants described becoming aware of their sexual attraction to minors as a gradual process. Their sexual development started relatively “normal” at early puberty, when they were still interested in their same-aged peers. However, as they became older, most (11) recognized becoming different from others because their sexual age preference remained stable. Others (four) became aware of their sexual attraction quite suddenly, for example during contact with minors either in real life or by seeing a picture. Since that moment, all except one (see section Coping with Forbidden Feelings) had felt the presence of this sexual attraction during their lives, indicating a stable sexual preference.

Content of Sexual Interest

Ten participants acknowledged that their attraction to minors was not solely sexual, but that romantic feelings were also present. They reported falling in love with a child, and/or had fantasies about having a real romantic relationship with a minor. Also, when asked what they found particularly attractive in minors, eight acknowledged that it was a combination of both physical characteristics, such as “their beauty” or “bodily shapes,” and behavior, such as “openness,” “spontaneity,” “honesty,” or “naïveté,” whereas only four referred solely to children's appearances... 

Full article at:  http://goo.gl/MDgvv1

By:  Houtepen JA1, Sijtsema JJ1, Bogaerts S1.

• 1 Department of Developmental Psychology Tilburg University , Tilburg , The Netherlands.
• J Sex Marital Ther. 2016 Jan 2;42(1):48-69. Epub 2015 Jun 22. 

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