A Comparative Survey of Beliefs About “Normal” Childhood Sexual Behaviors

Heiman, Marsha L.; Leiblum, Sandra R.; Esquilin, Susan Cohen; Pallitto, Laura Melendez

doi:10.1016/s0145-2134(97)00176-2

Cited by 46 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…First of all, it has to be mentioned that the definition of normal sexual behaviour depends on the social, cultural and familial context, which hampers distinguishing between normal and abnormal sexual behaviour in children [13]. The sexual behaviour in a particular child has to be compared with a representative normative sample (for a review of normal sexual behaviour in children, we refer to the publications of Friedrich et al (1998) for an American sample and to Schoentjes et al (1999) for a Dutch-speaking sample [10,29]).…”

Section: Normal Versus Abnormal Childhood Masturbationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Practical approach to childhood masturbation—a review

Mallants¹,

Casteels²

2008

Eur J Pediatr

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The aim of this article is to review the literature for information that could guide the clinical practitioner in the assessment and management of childhood masturbation. The boundary between normal and abnormal or deviant masturbation in children remains unclear. Besides the link with sexual abuse, other environmental factors and individual factors, as well as psychiatric disorders, are mentioned in relation to masturbation and sexual behaviour in general in children. However, evidence-based information is missing and, therefore, a safety management approach is advised when a clinician is confronted with childhood masturbation. We conclude that normal psychosexual development, as well as environmental and individual factors, should be considered in the assessment and management of childhood masturbation.

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Section: Normal Versus Abnormal Childhood Masturbationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All groups judged sexual acts involving oral, vaginal or anal penetration of children before puberty to be abnormal behaviour [13]. Schoentjes et al performed a study in a representative, normative sample of 917 2-to 12-year-old Dutch-speaking schoolchildren.…”

Section: Normal Versus Abnormal Childhood Masturbationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Practical approach to childhood masturbation—a review

Mallants¹,

Casteels²

2008

Eur J Pediatr

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“…The base rate of "normal" childhood sexual behavior is higher than many practitioners believe (Heiman, Leiblum, Esquilin, & Pallitto, 1998). Further, women tend to judge many sexual behaviors to be more abnormal than do males (Heiman, Leiblum, Esquilin, & Pallitto, 1998).…”

Section: The Role Of School Psychologistsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Sexual interest in children, child sexual abuse, and psychological sequelae for children

Bromberg

Johnson²

2001

Psychology in the Schools

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This article reviews the literature on sexual victimization of minors and the role of school psychologists in assessing and intervening with sexually abused minors. Although estimates of child sexual abuse prevalence differ widely owing to disclosure biases and the definitions that researchers have used in studying it, it is clear that child sexual abuse is a serious public problem. Also troubling is the extent to which "normal" adults, especially males, exhibit sexual interest in children, suggesting that a substantial number may be at risk for victimizing minors; fortunately, a variety of inhibitory mechanisms prevent most adults from committing this crime. Although victims typically suffer from sexual abuse, surprisingly, some evidence suggests that victims of sexual abuse can exhibit neutral or even positive outcomes, a controversial finding that has numerous possible explanations. Tragically, childhood sexual abuse may lead the victim to become an abuser later in life, sometimes while still a minor. We suggest directions for future research.

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“…Another way of studying sexuality and sexual behaviour among children has been to make observations in group settings outside the family residence, using family day care providers or preschool staff as reporters (Davies, Glaser & Kossoff, 2000;Lindblad et al, 1995;Phipps-Yonas et al, 1993). It has been argued that this way of using adults´ observations of children's sexual behaviours has been argued to maybe underestimate the extent of exploration, experimentation and sexual activity among the children since they are socialized quite early and learn not to show such behaviours in public (Heiman, Leiblum et al, 1998). Larsson & Svedin (2001) discuss the limitation of reported behaviour as they do not always represent the true behaviour.…”

Section: Sexual Behavioursmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A clear pattern among the schoolchildren was also that sexual behaviours correlated with age as seen in previous studies (Bancroft, 2003;Larson & Svedin, 2001). Some sexual behaviours decreased with age probably because the child gets socialized (Heiman, Leiblum et al, 1998;Larsson & Svedin, 2001) and some increased as the child grew older. If a child continues to present behaviours that should decrease with age, for example showing genitals in public, this has to be seen as uncommon and problematic and should draw attention from adults and professionals concerning the child.…”

Section: Common and Uncommon Sexual Behaviours Among Schoolchildrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual behaviour, debut and identity among Swedish Schoolchildren

Kastbom¹

2015

Linköping University Medical Dissertations

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Background: Sexual behaviour among schoolchildren and adolescents is a sparsely researched area and there are delicate methodological obstacles and ethical concerns when conducting such research. Still it is a subject that engages both parents and professionals. A sexualized behaviour or an early sexual debut (younger than 14 years) can be a sign of sexual abuse. It is therefore of importance to describe what is common and what is uncommon sexual behaviour among children and what the consequences of an early or a late sexual debut may be for the individual upon reaching late adolescence. Adolescents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) are also a group that needs further attention and research since they are often described as having a lower quality of life and more often experience child abuse than heterosexual teens. Aims: The research leading to this thesis had four goals: 1) to elucidate the sexual behaviour of children between the ages of 7 and 13 as observed by their parents, 2) to investigate the relationship between an early sexual debut (before 14 years of age) and socio-demographic data, sexual experience, health, experience of child abuse and behaviour at 18-years-of-age, 3) to explore associations with no sexual debut (no oral, vaginal or anal sex) at the age of 18, and 4) to describe the relationship between sexual identification and socio-demographic background data, sexual behaviour, health and health behaviour, experiences of child sexual and/or physical abuse and present behaviour among Swedish adolescents. Methods: The parents of 418 children answered questionnaires about their child’s behaviour, both general and sexual, and a sample of 3432 Swedish high school students completed a survey about sexuality, health and abuse at the age of 18. In addition, 362 members of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) completed the same survey at a mean age of 21.4 years. Results: Most of the sexual behaviours among the schoolchildren were common, and in part related to, or varied with, age and gender. A small number of sexual behaviours often referred to as sexualised or problematic behaviours (for example, kissing adults with the tongue, imitating intercourse, masturbating in public, and touching other children’s genitals with the mouth) were found to be very unusual or not reported by any parent in this normative group of Swedish children. Among the adolescents, an early debut (younger than 14 years of age) correlated positively with number of partners, experience of oral and anal sex, smoking, drug and alcohol use and antisocial behaviour, such as being violent, lying, stealing and running away from home. Girls with an early sexual debut had significantly more experience of sexual abuse while boys with an early sexual debut were more likely to have a weak sense of coherence, low self-esteem and poor mental health, together with experience of sexual abuse, selling sex and physical abuse. A multiple logistic regression model showed that a number...

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A Comparative Survey of Beliefs About “Normal” Childhood Sexual Behaviors

Cited by 46 publications

References 17 publications

Practical approach to childhood masturbation—a review

Practical approach to childhood masturbation—a review

Sexual interest in children, child sexual abuse, and psychological sequelae for children

Sexual behaviour, debut and identity among Swedish Schoolchildren

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