Grooming, Child Abuse, & Child Sexual Exploitation
Non-contact child sexual abuse: Characteristics in a representative Spanish sample.
Open Access: No.
Abstract
There is growing interest in understanding non-contact violence in the context of child sexual abuse (CSA). This study explores the characteristics of four types of non-contact CSA in a representative sample of the Spanish population. A sample of 1,071 Spanish adults (53% males; mean age 45.37 years) completed the Child Sexual Abuse Experiences Questionnaire. For each type of non-contact CSA experience, we analyzed the victim’s age at the time of the first incident, the frequency of occurrence, whether the perpetrator was the same individual (if multiple occurrences), the perpetrator’s gender, and the victim’s relationship to the perpetrator. Victim gender differences were examined for all variables. Some form of non-contact abuse had been experienced by 34.50% of the sample. Victims were most commonly aged between 12 and 15 years at the time of the first incident (37.6%), followed by ages 6–11 (31.7%). Over half of the victims (especially females) experienced abuse repeatedly. A significant proportion of those surveyed (55.7%) had been abused by different individuals, mainly males, although the percentage reporting a female perpetrator was higher among male victims. Perpetrators were most commonly an adult stranger or acquaintance, with gender differences emerging in cases where the perpetrator was another minor or someone in a position of responsibility, two scenarios that were more commonly reported by male victims. Non-contact CSA is becoming increasingly common in our connected society and shows specific characteristics that may differ across gender. These characteristics and differences are discussed in this research.
Relevance
Non-contact child abuse includes the use of technology (e.g., phones, messaging apps, webcams) to ask children to exposure their genitals or private parts, to take sexual photos and videos, and to show them pornography.
According to this study of Spanish adults, who were asked about childhood experiences, more than one-third reported experiencing some form of non-contact childhood abuse. It most commonly occurred for the first time during age 12-15, followed by age 6-11. More than half the victims (more females than males) reported repeat occurrences.
Most of the perpetrators were male; and included both other minors as well as adults. Being asked to show one’s private parts most commonly occurred when the victim was 6-11 years old; being asked to share or pose for a photo/video most commonly first occurred at age 16-17. Being exposed to pornography most commonly occurred at age 12-15, and most commonly by males and, for females, most commonly by a stranger.
Citation
Ferragut, M., Ortiz-Tallo, M., & Blanca, M. J. (2025). Non-contact child sexual abuse: Characteristics in a representative Spanish sample. International Review of Victimology. https://doi.org/10.1177/02697580251374720
