Description of a UK study of onset of sexually harmful behaviour before the age of ten years in boys referred to a specialist assessment and treatment service

Abstract

During the past 30 years, research into the phenomenon of sexually harmful behaviour has shifted from an adult focus to include adolescent and, more recently, childhood onset. This paper reports a study of onset, before the age of ten years, of sexually harmful behaviour in a group of 27 boys.Ethical consent was obtained to extract information from the case files of a national specialist service. A description of characteristics was built up from variable frequencies and quantitative and qualitative analysis produced findings that indicated a family history of cross-generational harm to children and a parental experience of unresolved harm in childhood generated inconsistent and insensitive parenting that was linked to high levels of maltreatment and insecurity of attachment in the research group. Sexualised reactions by the research subjects to a very high level of sexual victimisation were not responded to in a timely or appropriate way by parents, other caregivers or professionals so that sexually harmful behaviour continued without intervention for a significant period.The study proposes a three-stage model that identifies predisposing vulnerabilities, sexual victimisation as a trigger event and the subsequent development of sexually harmful behaviour as a protecting adaptation that assumes an aroused and organised aspect through repetition.

Exploring teachers’ lived experiences of child-on-child harmful sexual behaviour at school: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…This is not unique however, as even practitioners specialised in HSB can sometimes disagree as to what is unacceptable child sexualised behaviour (Vosmer et al, 2009) meaning specific training in the topic is essential (Charles and Mcdonald, 2005). Moreover, given that children, including those below the age of ten years, may abuse multiple other children, in groups and at school (Allardyce and Yates, 2013, Hawkes, 2011, Vizard et al, 2007b, a salient point is highlighted regarding the need to raise awareness about child-on-child HSB for all schools and across all ages. However, the present study has revealed the experience of a lack of specific training provision which meant inappropriate and problematical sexualised behaviours were not recognised.…”

The Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Children and Adolescents Who Display Harmful Sexual Behaviour: A Review of the Existing Research

“…Research into the perpetration of sexual harm has shifted from an adult focus to include adolescents and children (Hawkes, 2011 ), with harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) employed as a term to refer to this behaviour among those aged under eighteen. Children and adolescents who display such behaviours are more likely to have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in some capacity, including physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, family break-down/bereavement, witnessing and/or experiencing domestic violence, and parental substance abuse (Hackett, 2014 ; Hawkes, 2009 ; Rich, 2011 ).…”

A Longitudinal Examination of Developmental Covariates of Sexual Behavior Problems among Youth Referred to Child Protection Services

“…Prior research has stressed the role and importance of experiences of sexual victimization in the lives of children with SBP ( Friedrich et al, 1991 , 1992 ) and has suggested that it is a key developmental antecedent for sexual offending in adolescence (e.g., Burton et al, 1997 ; Hawkes, 2011 ). The current study does not challenge these earlier reports of the role and importance of sexual victimization experiences, particularly as our sample did not include children with no evidence of SBP.…”