Understanding child sexual behavior problems: A developmental psychopathology framework

Abstract

Children exhibiting sexual behavior have increasingly gained the attention of child welfare and mental health systems, as well as the scientific community. While a heterogeneous group, children with sexual behavior problems consistently demonstrate a number of problems related to adjustment and overall development. In order to appropriately intervene with these children, a comprehensive understanding of etiology is imperative. The overarching goal of the present paper is to review the extant research on mechanisms associated with the development of problematic sexual behavior in childhood within a developmental psychopathology framework. What is known about normative and nonnormative sexual behavior in childhood is reviewed, highlighting definitional challenges and age-related developmental differences. Further, the relationship between child sexual abuse and child sexual behavior problems is discussed, drawing attention to factors impacting this relationship. Risk factors for child sexual behavior problems, beyond that of sexual abuse, are also reviewed utilizing a transactional-ecological framework. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of implications of a developmental psychopathology perspective on problematic child sexual behaviors to inform future research and intervention efforts. Such implications include the need for attention to normative childhood sexual behavior, developmental sensitivity, and examinations of ecological domain in concert.

Sexual abuse in very young children: a psychological assessment in the Amsterdam Sexual Abuse Case study

“…Parents in our study seemed to experience slightly more feelings of shame and fewer feelings of distress related to the sexual abuse of their child compared to parents whose children completed trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for different forms of trauma (Holt, Cohen, & Mannarino, 2015). In earlier studies, parental PTSD symptoms and psychopathology were found to be related to child PTSD symptoms, (sexual) behaviour problems, and lower parent–child relationship quality (Elkovitch, Latzman, Hansen, & Flood, 2009; Levendosky & Graham-Bermann, 2000; van Ee, Kleber, & Mooren, 2012). We found similar associations, except for sexual behaviour problems.…”

Effects of a short teacher training programme on the management of children's sexual behaviours: a pilot study

“…With the exception of the study by Hackett, Carpenter, Patsios, and Eszter (2012) which suggested that interagency courses were effective in improving professionals' confidence in relation to reported levels of self-efficacy for working with young people with harmful sexual behaviours, there is a surprising lack of research focusing specifically on the extent of harmful sexual behaviours in the primary school environment and how they are managed (Elkovitch, Latzman, Hansen, & Flood, 2009). Similarly, there has been little evidence of work undertaken to address the needs of children who display harmful sexual behaviours (HM Probation, 2013).…”

“…Schools are a rich source of information about a child or young person's behaviour; outside the immediate family environment, schools are regarded as having one of the largest impacts on a child's development (Elkovitch et al, 2009). Teachers, in their daily interactions with students, are in a unique position to observe and identify sexualised behaviours that may cause concern.…”

Childhood Trauma Experience and the Expression of Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Adolescents in State Custody

“…These include self-stimulating behaviors (e.g., touching genitals in public/home), exhibitionism (e.g., exposing genitals to others), voyeurism (e.g., likes to watch others when they are exposed), and behaviors related to personal boundaries (e.g., standing too close to others) (Elkovitch, Latzman, Hansen, & Flood, 2009); sexual play between peers and siblings (e.g., playing doctor); and interest in sexual content in media (NCSBY, 2003). Conversely, infrequent sexual behaviors of children younger than 12 years of age include oral-genital contact, masturbating with an object, insertion of objects into the vagina or rectum, and intercourse (Friedrich, Grambsch, Broughton, Kuiper, & Beilke, 1991).…”