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                            Library & Multimedia
 Predictors of Online Child Sexual Abuse in a U.S. National Sample
NCJ Number
              307470
Journal

*Journal of Interpersonal Violence* Volume: 38 Issue: 11-12 Dated: 2023 Pages: 7780-7803
Author(s)
          Heather A. Turner;
                        David Finkelhor;
                        Deirdre Colburn
Date Published

2023
Length
              24 pages
Annotation
              This study concludes that prevention programs aimed at reducing the risk of online child sexual abuse and incorporating education on the need to avoid risky online behaviors are generally likely to be effective against online sexual abuse.
Abstract
              This study finds that prevention programs directed at reducing risk of sexual abuse, in general, are likely to be effective against online sexual abuse, provided they also incorporate efforts to educate youth on the need to avoid risky online behaviors. As technology has become increasingly integrated into the everyday lives of young people and social interactions have moved online, so too have the opportunities for child sexual abuse. However, the risk factors for online sexual abuse, and their similarities or differences with those of offline sexual abuse have not been clarified, making it difficult to design prevention strategies. Using a nationally representative online survey panel of young adults ages 18 to 28, the current study sought to identify risk factors for online childhood sexual abuse and compare their relevance and strength in predicting offline sexual abuse. The 2,639 participants, ages 18 to 28, were sampled from the Ipsos KnowledgePanel and were asked questions about 11 different kinds of technology-facilitated online sexual abuse that occurred in childhood, follow-up questions about their dynamics and offenders, and a variety of potential risk factors. Results indicated that: (1) being cisgender female, nonheterosexual, and having parents with less than a high school education emerged as important demographic predictors of online child sexual abuse (OCSA); and (2) early offline sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of OCSA, when considering both its direct and indirect effects through online risky behavior. (Published Abstract Provided)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2020-R2-CX-0015


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        Victims of Technology-Facilitated Abuse: Prevalence, Awareness, Dynamics, Help-seeking and Reporting
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2023
    
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