Child-on-child (Peer-on-peer) Sexual Abuse

Full Article Title: Clusters of risk associated with harmful sexual behaviour onset for children and young people: Opportunities for early
intervention.

Open Access: Yes

Abstract

Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) carried out by children and young people can include sexual abuse of younger children or adults, or sexual assault in dating or peer  relationships. The aim of this paper is to capture the “practice wisdom” of practitioners and applied researchers about clusters of risk factors associated with HSB onset, as well as possibilities for earlier intervention. Participants included practitioners and applied researchers in the HSB field. Data was collected in 2020 through individual  interviews with eight key expert informants, and two group interviews – the first with two applied researchers and the second with three practitioners. Data analysis revealed risk factor clusterings around five key childhood experiences: being sexually curious; having a sexual interest in children; living with childhood trauma; living with contextual violence; and using pornography.  These clusters are discussed in relation to early intervention.

Relevance

The use of pornography itself “can trigger HSB in children and young people who do not experience other risk factors for HSB” such as childhood adversity or living with violence. “Using pornography combines with other risk factors and accelerates onset of HSB. However, it also appears to be triggering HSB in children and young people who do not live with traditional risk factors associated with HSB. This points to the shocking impact of pornography on children – both vulnerable and not.”

Citation

McKibbin, G., Humphreys, C., Tyler, M, & Spiteri-Staines, A. (2022). Clusters of risk associated with harmful sexual behaviour onset for children and young people: opportunities for early intervention, Journal of Sexual Aggression, September. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2022.2117429