Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: Parental Discussion, Protective Practices and Attitudes

Abstract

Understanding parental practices and attitudes regarding child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention could be used to improve CSA prevention, but little information is available. In this study, we summarise survey data collected from 248 Australian and UK parents (87% female) with at least one child aged 6-11 years ( M = 8.6, SD = 1.8). This is the first study to quantify parental use of protective practices, other than prevention education, which may guard against CSA. Parental media mediation, which may safeguard against online dangers, was another unique focus of this study. Participants reported their discussion of sensitive topics with their children including CSA; behaviors that may reduce the incidence of CSA (e.g., monitoring, supervision, delegation of care and checking-in with the child); mediation of their child's media use; and attitudes towards CSA prevention education. Parents reported discussing sexual abuse less than other sensitive topics such as abduction dangers, drugs, and death but more than issues surrounding puberty, sex and pornography. Parents reported using high levels of protective behaviours, however some areas of concern were revealed. Of concern was the low-moderate level of parental media mediation, with substantial numbers of children potentially exposed to online risks such as using devices unsupervised in bedrooms or chatting to individuals unknown to their parents and not having their devices checked for concerning content. Almost all parents were supportive of CSA prevention education and felt they should provide this education. However, two-thirds of parents thought CSA education may be associated with harms for the child and two-thirds of parents believed children could prevent their own abuse. Reported results will aid in our understanding of which areas of parenting could be strengthened to create safer environments for children. This research has particularly highlighted the need for parents to be more protective around their children’s access to online devices.

Parents’ Willingness to Educate Child Sexual Abuse to their Children age 5-15 Years in Karachi, Pakistan

“…The results are in line to those of various national and international research (6,7). This is an encouraging signal that the veil which has up until modern times in part concealed the crisis in conservative Pakistan has finally begun to be lifted.…”

“…Among the participants, 64.2 percent were fathers. Previous studies within south Asia have demonstrated a significantly higher willingness among mothers as compared to fathers to educate their children about CSA (7,14)…”

Where do Babies Come from? Parent-Child Communication about Sex Education

“…However, it would be a mistake to assume that as a result of parents' fear of sex education, children know nothing about sexuality. Whereas on the contrary, since children are born they are faced with implicit and explicit sexual messages from family, peers, the media, and the early education environment (Robinson et al, 2017;J. I. Rudolph et al, 2022).…”

Examining the Awareness Levels of Parents on Child Sexual Abuse

“…37 According to a study conducted in 2021 on sexual abuse prevention, parents talk more about child abduction, drug use, and death than abuse, and more than half of parents think that educating their children against abuse is harmful. 38 Besides the various sexual taboos that parents who consider CSA prevention education to be harmful, their lack of knowledge about what to teach about abuse may also be a factor. 39 According to the research conducted in this context, nearly 40% of the parents had no conversation with their children about CSA and 20% believed that their children were not at risk.…”