Help-Seeking and Help-Related Experiences of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

Abstract

This interpretive qualitative meta-synthesis (QMS) aims to systematically review what we know about the help-seeking and help-related experiences of commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEY). A comprehensive search of the relevant databases was conducted to identify published qualitative peer-reviewed papers and research reports about the experiences and perceptions of CSEY. A corpus of 34 qualitative studies was compiled and synthesized, using the conceptual framework of help-seeking and QMS guidelines. The QMS reveals that although help-seeking of CSEY are rarely the focus of the inquiry, the reviewed studies include meaningful information about help-related experiences of CSEY. Thus, the synthesis of the available data yields novel insights about how CSEY perceive their involvement in CSE, define the problems they deal with, decide to seek help, choose the proper help, and engage in helping relations. Particularly, the QMS underscores that CSEY do not always perceive their involvement in CSE as problematic, nor do they identify themselves as victims of exploitation. The findings highlight the significance of developing social services that specialize in helping CSEY, the importance of actively identifying CSEY and reaching out to them, and the need to enable CSEY to be involved in decisions about the extent and type of support they are provided.

The relationship between underage initiation of selling sex and depression among female sex workers in Eswatini

“…This fear of stigma may be related to the finding in our study that less than half of FSW with depressive symptoms sought mental health treatment, and one in eight FSW who did not seek treatment stated the reason was related to selling sex. Qualitative research with minors who sell sex in other settings has also identified stigma in healthcare as a barrier to care ( 22 , 56 , 57 ). Interventions to reduce stigma toward sex workers in healthcare settings that have been found to be effective in other countries could be adapted and implemented in Eswatini.…”

Younger age of initiation of selling sex and depressive symptoms among female sex workers in Eswatini

“…Qualitative research with minors who sell sex in other settings has also identified stigma in healthcare as a barrier to care. 22,56,57 Interventions to reduce stigma toward sex workers in healthcare settings that have been found to be effective in other countries could be adapted and implemented in Eswatini. This may be particularly beneficial to improve the uptake of physical and mental health services among FSW who are depressed and those who started selling sex as minors.…”

“…Qualitative research with minors who sell sex in other settings has also identified stigma in healthcare as a barrier to care. 22,56,57 Interventions to reduce stigma toward sex workers in healthcare settings that have been found to be effective in other countries could be adapted and implemented in Eswatini.…”

Invisibilized victims: the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in the European context / Víctimas invisibilizadas: la explotación sexual de niños, niñas y adolescentes en el contexto europeo

“…This creates a false illusion of control and empowerment through involvement in CSE (Napoli et al, 2001). These young people do not perceive their participation in this type of relationship as problematic and instead see themselves as survivors who are doing what they need to do to keep going (Prior et al, 2023). The empirical studies conducted on this matter have confirmed that the experience of the sexual victimization in childhood and adolescence contributes to developing a prostitute identity in girls from early ages (Phoenix, 2000), which makes them more likely to get involved in situations of sexual exploitation.…”

“…Se produce, de este modo, una falsa ilusión de control y empoderamiento a partir de la implicación en la ESIA (Napoli et al, 2001). Estos y estas jóvenes no perciben como problemática su participación en este tipo de relaciones y se ven a sí mismos como supervivientes que hacen lo que sea necesario para salir adelante (Prior et al, 2023). Los estudios empíricos llevados a cabo sobre este tema han confirmado que las experiencias de victimización sexual en la infancia y la adolescencia contribuyen al desarrollo de una identidad de prostituta en las niñas desde edades tempranas (Phoenix, 2000), que facilita involucrarse en situaciones de explotación sexual.…”