Predictors of Online Child Sexual Abuse in a U.S. National Sample

Abstract

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. Findings suggest 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.

Prevalence of Technology-Facilitated Abuse Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youths

“…Other possible risk factors include early puberty and early in-person exposure to various forms of abuse, bullying, and adversity that may be associated with subsequent online abuse. 4 Although existing studies suggest an elevated risk of TFA among SGM youths as a whole, few studies have compared rates across specific gender and sexual identity groups, to our knowledge.…”

“…Although reasons for their elevated risk remain unclear, it has been suggested that sexual and gender minority (SGM) youths engage in more sexting behavior and more often use the internet for acquiring sexual information and finding sexual interactions, all of which can increase risk. Other possible risk factors include early puberty and early in-person exposure to various forms of abuse, bullying, and adversity that may be associated with subsequent online abuse …”

“…Research has found that youths who identify as sexual minorities (gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual) and/or who identify as gender minorities (transgender, gender fluid, other nonbinary gender) experience higher rates of discrimination, bullying, in-person sexual assault, and dating violence than do cisgender heterosexual youths. 1 , 2 , 3 Turner et al 4 found sexual minority status to also be a significant risk factor for online child sexual abuse, a category that includes several forms of TFA. Studies have also shown that sexual minority youths are more likely to have been pressured to send sexts and may be more susceptible to online grooming by adults.…”

“…Other possible risk factors include early puberty and early in-person exposure to various forms of abuse, bullying, and adversity that may be associated with subsequent online abuse. 4 …”

Forensic psychological procedures in cases of technology‐facilitated sexual abuse among adolescents: A scoping review

“…Consistent with this trend, the Pew Research Center found that nearly all U.S. adolescents report daily Internet use (97%), smartphone access (95%), and engagement on social networking platforms such as YouTube (95%), TikTok (67%), and Instagram (62%; Vogels et al., 2022; n = 1316, 13–17 years old). While ICT allows adolescents to develop their identities, establish different interpersonal relationships, explore their sexual interests, and expand extrafamilial bonds (Borca et al., 2015; Eleuteri et al., 2017; Lenhart et al., 2015), its use may also increase the likelihood of becoming victims of technology‐facilitated sexual abuse (hereinafter TFSA; De Santisteban & Gámez‐Guadix, 2018; Finkelhor et al., 2022, 2023; Gámez‐Guadix et al., 2022; Patchin & Hinduja, 2020; Turner et al., 2023; Wolak et al., 2018).…”