Journal Of Child Sexual Abuse[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Sexual Victimization, Alcohol Intoxication, and Sexual Abdication: The Roles of Impulse Control and Goal-Directed Behavior Emotion Regulation Difficulties in the Context of Negative and Positive Mood.
Eassa M, Neilson EC, John J … +3 more , Steger K, Davis KC, George WH
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42366524 · Publisher ↗
Sexual trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent and adult sexual assault (ASA), is associated with sexual abdication - letting a partner decide how far to go sexually - which contributes to condom nonu...
Sexual trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent and adult sexual assault (ASA), is associated with sexual abdication - letting a partner decide how far to go sexually - which contributes to condom nonuse. Difficulties with emotion regulation related to goal-directed behavior and impulsivity when distressed are associated with risky sexual behaviors. The cumulative effects of multiple sexual traumas (i.e. CSA, ASA) may influence emotion regulation and sexual risk-taking. Additionally, alcohol intoxication may also disrupt emotion regulation processes. This study leverages an alcohol administration design with mood induction to examine how sexual trauma predicts impulse control and goal-directed behavior emotion regulation difficulties and sexual abdication intentions in the context of acute intoxication and negative or positive mood. Cisgender female non-problem drinkers ( 484; = 24.98, = 2.65) completed surveys assessing emotion regulation difficulties and CSA and ASA victimization. Participants were randomized to beverage condition [control (BrAC = .00) vs. alcohol (BrAC = .08%gm)] and mood induction (negative vs. positive mood). Participants projected themselves into a scenario depicting a sexual encounter and reported their sexual abdication intentions. Survivors of CSA + ASA reported greater abdication intentions via impulse control and goal-directed behavior emotion regulation difficulties relative to other participants. Impulse control difficulties were positively associated with abdication intentions among those experiencing negative moods. Multiple sexual traumas across the lifespan may contribute to difficulties regulating impulsive actions when distressed and subsequent sexual abdication. Treatment of sexual trauma should include strategies to promote sexual health.
Thematic Analysis of Written Exposures in an Integrated Intervention for PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder Following Recent Sexual Assault.
Tilstra-Ferrell EL, Salim SR, Brockdorf AN … +3 more , Amaya S, Back SE, Hahn CK
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42333598 · Publisher ↗
Sexual assault (SA) is alarmingly prevalent and is associated with increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Exposure-based treatments are a first-line treatment for PTSD and...
Sexual assault (SA) is alarmingly prevalent and is associated with increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Exposure-based treatments are a first-line treatment for PTSD and have potential for implementation early after trauma. However, scarce research has been conducted on the application of exposure following SA among people with PTSD symptoms and AUD, which is critical to inform the development of effective and tailored early interventions for this population. The present study addressed this gap by using thematic analysis to examine content included in written exposure narratives among 10 adults with recent SA (i.e., in the past 3 months) who received a five-session telehealth-delivered integrated intervention: Skills Training and Exposure for PTSD and Substance Misuse (STEPS). STEPS integrates Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD with cognitive-behavioral skills for AUD to address both concerns simultaneously. Participants demonstrated current symptoms of PTSD and met criteria for AUD. Nineteen themes were identified and organized under five categories: Sensory and Memory Processing, Description of Emotions, Description of Cognitions, Individual-Social Impact, and Reactions to Writing. Findings from this study demonstrate that recent SA survivors with AUD can engage in early exposure-based interventions, such as STEPS, with high protocol adherence (e.g. including sensory details, labeling emotions, expressing cognitions). Results also suggest that interpersonal and sociocultural factors may be important for survivors to process and make meaning of after recent SA.
Profiling the Invisible: A Scoping Review of Characteristics and Detection of Live-Streaming Child Sexual Abuse Offenders.
Prinz M, de Roos MS
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42283737 · Publisher ↗
Live-streaming child sexual abuse (LSCSA) represents a rapidly evolving and concealed form of child exploitation emerging at the intersection of technology, poverty, and opportunity. This scoping review synthesizes empir...
Live-streaming child sexual abuse (LSCSA) represents a rapidly evolving and concealed form of child exploitation emerging at the intersection of technology, poverty, and opportunity. This scoping review synthesizes empirical findings to characterize the actors involved and the socioeconomic conditions facilitating LSCSA. Drawing on a thematically synthesized PRISMA-ScR approach, 12 relevant articles were identified, supplemented by an expert interview with the Dutch National Police, offering valuable insights on the current issues and challenges faced by law enforcement. Evidence highlights that most LSCSA offenders are demographically homogenous, predominantly older men from developed countries. They exploit economically vulnerable families in low-income countries to obtain customized, real-time sexual abuse content. LSCSA differs from other forms of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) due to its real-time, financially driven nature, posing unique legal and technological challenges to detection and prosecution. Furthermore, its interactive and on-demand nature allows offenders to direct the abuse as it happens, further compounding its psychological harm to victims and complicating efforts to trace and prosecute the crime. Traditional investigative tools have limited utility due to technological barriers, including end-to-end encryption, anonymous payment systems, and browser privacy features. Therefore, data-driven solutions, including machine learning, transaction monitoring, and international collaboration, are emphasized to disrupt LSCSA networks. By consolidating current knowledge on LSCSA and proposing evidence-based policy recommendations tailored to law enforcement needs, particularly those of the Dutch National Police, this research contributes to a more data-driven, ethically sound, and globally coordinated response to online child sexual exploitation in an increasingly digital world.
Examining Shame Types and PTSD Among Survivors of Lifetime Sexual Victimization.
Eshelman LR, Bhuptani PH, Messman TL
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42277605 · Publisher ↗
Lifetime sexual victimization history (i.e. experiences in childhood, adolescence, and/or adulthood), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple types of general and assault-related shame were examined among 95...
Lifetime sexual victimization history (i.e. experiences in childhood, adolescence, and/or adulthood), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and multiple types of general and assault-related shame were examined among 95 community and college women. Participants completed surveys assessing sexual victimization histories, shame, and a clinician-administered diagnostic interview for PTSD. Levels of multiple types of shame were compared among survivors of lifetime sexual victimization with current PTSD ( = 31), survivors of lifetime sexual victimization without current PTSD ( = 33), and non-traumatized controls ( = 31). Hypotheses were largely supported. Results indicated survivors with PTSD reported more assault-related shame compared to survivors without PTSD. Additionally, survivors with PTSD endorsed more characterological shame and behavioral shame than the other groups, who did not differ. The sexual victimization groups reported comparable levels of bodily shame, regardless of PTSD diagnosis. Finally, assault-related shame and characterological shame were associated with increased assault-related PTSD symptom severity in the multivariate model. Further research and clinical interventions targeting shame may be particularly important for survivors of sexual victimization, with and without a current PTSD diagnosis.
Psychometric Analysis of the Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Validity Correlates.
Rye BJ, Tuer AG, Hertz S
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42272291 · Publisher ↗
This study is a psychometric analysis of the (PSO) scale, a reconceptualization of the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender scale. Using a student sample, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The initial thr...
This study is a psychometric analysis of the (PSO) scale, a reconceptualization of the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offender scale. Using a student sample, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The initial three-factor data-model fit was poor. To improve fit, one item was dropped and error terms of several items were allowed to covary, producing acceptable fit indices. Subscales of and demonstrated strong internal consistency metrics, whereas did not achieve adequate reliability until the aforementioned item was omitted. Correlations between the total scale and three subscale scores with various instruments address discriminant and concurrent validity. The total PSO as well as the subscale correlated most consistently with compassion for those who offend sexually as well as with various justice beliefs. Conservatism, religiosity, or knowing a person who had perpetrated sexual assault failed to demonstrate substantial correlations with either the total PSO or any subscales. Gender differences in and were observed and replicated prior research. We conclude that the PSO is a promising research instrument, worthy of use and further investigation.
Hidden Worlds: How Child Sexual Abuse Offenders Portray Themselves in Clear-Web Paedophile Community Interactions and Dark-Web Survey Responses.
Marsh-Rossney R, Insoll T, Ovaska AK … +2 more , Vaaranen-Valkonen N, Lorenzo-Dus N
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42267684 · Publisher ↗
The protection of children from sexual abuse is of paramount importance to society, and the threat of this abuse has only grown in recent years. Those who pose this threat, child sex offenders, have been found to congreg...
The protection of children from sexual abuse is of paramount importance to society, and the threat of this abuse has only grown in recent years. Those who pose this threat, child sex offenders, have been found to congregate in online communities where they can trade abusive material and interact with each other. Despite concerns raised in research about the harmful influence of these communities on their members, they remain greatly understudied. The present article aims to bring to light a phenomenon taking place in these communities: how the offenders present their identities, behaviors, and motivations. Two complementary datasets were approached from a computer-mediated discourse and thematic analysis perspective, which were sourced from (1) clear-web offender-to-offender interactions in private social media chats, and (2) offenders responding to a survey on the dark-web. The results show that there was diversity in how offenders portrayed themselves to others, with predominantly positive self-presentations in the private chats and many negative self-presentations in the survey responses. Offenders rationalized and defended their criminal behaviors, dehumanizing victims and transferring blame away from themselves. They also disclosed primarily sexual motivations for offending, but a range of motivations were cited. Identity construction differed substantially between the two datasets, potentially indicating that offenders tailor how they present their pedophilia to their audience.
Mixed Methodological Pilot Evaluation of a Program to Prevent Sexual Exploitation of High School Youth.
Edwards KM, Dalla RL, Wheeler L … +8 more , Rentschler J, Kang JS, Bryson GD, Paschal AK, Ray CM, Nutting A, Thorne E, Helpingstine C
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Jun · PMID 42246369 · Publisher ↗
Despite increasing concerns about child sexual exploitation (CSE), we know little about how to prevent this prevalent public health issue. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a mixed methodological pilot eval...
Despite increasing concerns about child sexual exploitation (CSE), we know little about how to prevent this prevalent public health issue. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a mixed methodological pilot evaluation of a school-based program - READY to Stand® (RTS) - aimed at preventing CSE perpetration and victimization and increasing bystander intervention - among high school students in an urban setting. The RTS program includes six, 45-minute modules implemented in groups and provides students with psychoeducation on CSE, healthy relationship skills training, identification of safe people/resources, programming components to enhance valuing of self and others, bystander intervention training, and shifting school norms to be intolerant of all forms of violence, including CSE. Participants were 177 high school youth in one traditional and one alternative high school who completed surveys before participating in RTS. The follow-up survey was administered 1 month after the final program session. Youth also completed post-session surveys with open-ended items, and research staff completed class observations and fidelity checks. Results demonstrated high levels of acceptability, perceived impact, and safety, although suggestions for program enhancements (e.g. integrate more activities) were identified. Overall fidelity was 87.3%. Results indicated significant improvements in valuing self, bystander readiness to help, and help-seeking intentions following program participation. Item-level analyses also suggested potential improvements in prevention-related conversations with school personnel, whereas evidence for changes in social norms and commercial sexual exploitation knowledge was limited. Using findings from the current study, the RTS was revised in preparation for a larger scale evaluation.
Sexual Harassment at Work and Its Different Facets: Age and Gender Differences in the Post-#Metoo Era.
Rosander M, Einarsen SV
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42231644 · Publisher ↗
Sexual harassment remains a persistent issue in working life, yet research often treats it as a uniform phenomenon. The present study aimed to provide a more nuanced understanding by examining the prevalence and risk pat...
Sexual harassment remains a persistent issue in working life, yet research often treats it as a uniform phenomenon. The present study aimed to provide a more nuanced understanding by examining the prevalence and risk patterns of three distinct forms of sexual harassment - sexualized conduct, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion - while focusing on gender, age, and workplace context. Data were drawn from a nationally representative probability sample of the Swedish workforce ( = 3,307), with calibrated weights based on the total population register. Overall, 15.6% had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment in the past six months. Women - particularly younger women - were overrepresented among those exposed to unwanted sexual attention, while no gender differences emerged for sexualized conduct or sexual coercion. Women in the private sector and men in the municipal sector reported higher exposure. Being in a gender minority increased exposure for both genders. Opposite-sex supervisory relationships were associated with heightened exposure, especially for unwanted sexual attention. The results underscore the importance of distinguishing between types of sexual harassment, as well as considering relational and contextual factors. These insights have practical implications for designing targeted interventions and prevention strategies sensitive to gender dynamics, group composition, and leadership structures in the workplace.
Evaluating an Online Training Program for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention in Schools: The Role of Training, Leadership, and Policy in Educator Awareness and Reporting.
Oyefuga E, Shakeshaft C, Carlyle K … +8 more , Conley A, Ramezani N, Ingram M, Ortiz A, Smilde A, Lefeavers S, Russo J, Kitching E
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42218601 · Publisher ↗
The problem of school employee sexual misconduct or educator sexual misconduct remains persistent and largely taboo. Yet, organizational priorities and norms play a critical role in determining how effectively schools ca...
The problem of school employee sexual misconduct or educator sexual misconduct remains persistent and largely taboo. Yet, organizational priorities and norms play a critical role in determining how effectively schools can prevent such misconduct. This paper examines the impact of Praesidium's online training program by analyzing changes in school employee attitudes and beliefs across three time points: pre-training, immediately after the training, and two to three months after the training. It also incorporates perspectives from school administrators to gain a fuller understanding of what is happening in educational institutions regarding child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention. The educators in the sample come from 63 schools in 12 school districts from 9 states across the U.S. These schools include both independent and public institutions, and several had previously reported incidents of educator sexual abuse. The schools were selected using a purposive and outreach-based strategy aimed at engaging a diverse cross-section of K-12 institutions. By combining survey data with insights from administrator interviews, this paper captures factors that shape school employee preparedness to recognize and respond to sexual misconduct and boundary-crossing behaviors (BCB). The findings highlight the effectiveness of the training program in enhancing knowledge related to grooming, reporting responsibilities, and school culture. This research underscores the importance of equipping educators with practical tools to prevent CSA and emphasizes the need for clear policies and professional development that promote safer learning environments for all. In this paper, school employee sexual misconduct and educator sexual misconduct are used interchangeably.
Child Maltreatment and Trauma Symptoms Role in the Development of Intrusive Sexual Behaviors Among Children.
Simmons J, Barton N, Lopez K … +2 more , Taylor EK, Silovsky JF
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42218578 · Publisher ↗
Given the high rate of sexual victimization committed by youth, it is critical to identify the etiological pathways of intrusive sexual behavior (ISB) to prevent future acts. ISBs are sexual behaviors that are aggressive...
Given the high rate of sexual victimization committed by youth, it is critical to identify the etiological pathways of intrusive sexual behavior (ISB) to prevent future acts. ISBs are sexual behaviors that are aggressive, forceful, or otherwise coercive. Previous research has suggested that child maltreatment experiences are key environmental risk factors for ISB. The specific mechanism requires further study, including the potential pathway of subsequent posttraumatic symptom clusters (PTSS) sequela and ISB. This paper investigated maltreatment type and PTSS as risk factors in the development of ISBs. Caregivers of 106 children aged 3-12 who were referred to a specialty outpatient clinic for problematic sexual behaviors completed measures of child trauma, PTSS (e.g. reexperiencing, hyperarousal), and PSB frequencies, including ISBs. Results demonstrated a significant association between traumatic events and PTSS. A direct effect between CPA and ISB was found (= 1.22, = 2.54, = .04), as well as a significant indirect effect of CPA through hyperarousal symptoms (0.26, CI = 0.015-0.634) to ISB. CSA did not exert a direct effect on ISB or through any PTSS symptoms. Lastly, no direct effect of reexperiencing or hyperarousal on ISB was found. These results are discussed through clinical implications and future research for the prevention of future sexual victimization among children. The pattern of results is consistent with etiological research on disruptive behaviors overall, supporting future longitudinal research examining environmental, developmental, and neurological risk and protective factors.
A Cohort of Adolescents Displaying Harmful Sexual Behavior: Distinctive Factors Between Contact and Non-Contact Sexual Offending.
Conway S, Evans S, Johnson D
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Apr · PMID 42161863 · Publisher ↗
There are a range of distinct factors associated with youths who engage in Harmful Sexual Behaviors (HSB). However, few studies have directly explored the different types of HSB among young people and their defining char...
There are a range of distinct factors associated with youths who engage in Harmful Sexual Behaviors (HSB). However, few studies have directly explored the different types of HSB among young people and their defining characteristics. This study aimed to compare the characteristics and backgrounds of young people engaging in contact (frotteurism, penetrative/attempted penetrative sexual assault) and non-contact HSB (voyeuristic and technology-assisted HSB). The study also explores the diversity of HSB offenses, focusing on whether individuals engaged exclusively in contact HSB, exclusively in non-contact HSB, or a mixture of both. Background and HSB data were collected from 88 youths between the ages of nine and 19 years old. This information was collected through referrals made to the Interventions for Vulnerable Youth (IVY) project, a Scottish Government-funded service, between October 2020 and November 2023. The results of this study show that youths who engaged in mixed HSB more often targeted a range of victim age groups (children and adults) as well as a mixture of male and female victims. However, there were several shared characteristics between contact, non-contact, and mixed HSB groups. These included experiences of insecure (disrupted) attachment, previous school behavioral issues, use of online pornographic material, and previous histories of demonstrating non-sexual violence. Each of these characteristics were also found to significantly contributed toward HSB escalating from non-contact to contact offenses. These findings reveal clear risk factors that link different types of HSB to the specific developmental pathways of offending over time.
Understanding US College Women's Self-Reported Experiences Resisting Sexual Assault: A Qualitative Analysis.
Leone RM, Haikalis M, Marcantonio TL … +3 more , Gayer E, Franklin Kidd M, Thompson C
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42157627 · Publisher ↗
Sexual assault (SA) is a significant global public health problem. In the United States, one in five college women experiences SA, and alcohol and cannabis are known risk factors. Given the prevalence and impact of SA, t...
Sexual assault (SA) is a significant global public health problem. In the United States, one in five college women experiences SA, and alcohol and cannabis are known risk factors. Given the prevalence and impact of SA, this study aims to understand college women's experiences of risk perception and resistance tactics, particularly when substances are involved. College women ( = 332) completed an online survey. They were asked if they had ever been at risk of being sexually assaulted. If they endorsed prior SA risk, they completed open-ended questions to describe the situation, their actions, and any involvement of substances. Over half of the women reported being at risk for and resisting SA. Among women who reported a one single incident ( = 125), content analysis revealed that women perceived risk due to perpetrator behaviors (76%; e.g. unwanted touching, pressure), environmental context (41.6%; e.g. isolation, substance presence), and internal cues (28.8%; e.g. discomfort, prior experiences). Nearly a third of women (31.3%) reported using multiple tactics to resist SA, with the most common resistance tactic being non-forceful physical means (48%; e.g. fleeing). Alcohol and/or cannabis use was involved in 52.4% of situations, most commonly alcohol. Risk factors and resistance tactics varied across substance use categories. Findings highlight that a significant percentage of women experience SA risk and resist, even in situations involving substances. Further, findings suggest that women who reported alcohol or cannabis use in a situation or themselves varied in what risks they noticed and how they resisted.
Development of a Momentary Digital Intervention to Prevent Sexual Revictimization Among College Women: A Qualitative Examination of Perceived Acceptability and Usefulness.
Maloney MA, Oesterle DW, Christie NJ … +2 more , Brown JL, Eckhardt CI
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42157536 · Full text
Sexual violence (SV) revictimization occurs at high rates among college women and is associated with numerous unique risk factors that vary from those predicting primary victimization; however, few programmatic efforts s...
Sexual violence (SV) revictimization occurs at high rates among college women and is associated with numerous unique risk factors that vary from those predicting primary victimization; however, few programmatic efforts specifically target the prevention of sexual revictimization. Therefore, using ADAPT-ITT - an empirically supported multiphasic cultural adaptation framework - to guide intervention development, two primary goals of the present study include: (a) assessing the unique needs and resources required to support SV survivors post-assault; and (b) collecting survivor feedback on a momentary digital intervention to prevent sexual revictimization. Twenty-two heterosexual, cisgender women with a history of SV, past-month binge drinking, and risky sexual behavior (e.g. unprotected sexual activity) were recruited to participate in a semi-structured qualitative interview. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Thematic Analysis, with the goal of informing Phase 2 of ADAPT-ITT, during which researchers selected empirically supported content for the intervention. Qualitative thematic analysis of study transcripts yielded six themes: (a) campus cultural norms, (b) SV-related resources, (c) risky contexts, (d) what women need to know about SV, (e) intervention feedback, and (f) reasons to participate. Results suggest that college women survivors of SV support the use of a smartphone-based momentary prevention intervention that delivers protective behavioral strategies to reduce one's personal risk for revictimization. Implications for developing technology-based programmatic efforts to prevent sexual revictimization, including survivor-focused recommendations pertaining to intervention delivery, format, and post-assault needs of survivors are discussed.
Preliminary Correlates of Teachers' Intent to Engage in Bystander Intervention in Response to Gender- Based Violence and Harassment Among High School Students.
Sofen LI, Bhuptani PH, Orchowski LM
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42154648 · Publisher ↗
Gender-based violence and harassment (GVBH) is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes. Among adolescents in the United States, sexual harassment is prevalent, impacting nearly half of seventh to twelfth graders ea...
Gender-based violence and harassment (GVBH) is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes. Among adolescents in the United States, sexual harassment is prevalent, impacting nearly half of seventh to twelfth graders each year. Bystander intervention is a promising approach to prevent sexual harassment among youth which encourages individuals to act when they witness risk for harm among members of their community. Teachers are important members of school communities and have the potential to act as proactive bystanders to GBVH in schools. Accordingly, the present preliminary study examines correlates of teachers' self-reported perceived likelihood to intervene in instances of peer-to-peer GVBH. Self-report surveys were administered to 936 educators from 26 high schools in the Northeast United States. Surveys included measures of perceived educator and student norms, barriers to bystander intervention, and perceived likelihood to engage in bystander intervention in instances of student-to-student GBVH. Regression analyses indicated that perceptions of positive student and school personnel norms regarding bystander intervention, as well as perceiving fewer barriers to intervention were associated with a greater perceived likelihood of intervening in instances of GBVH among students. Additionally, transgender and female educators reported greater perceived likelihood to intervene than male educators, and transgender educators reported greater perceived likelihood than cisgender educators. Results of the present preliminary study suggest that perceptions of student attitudes toward bystander intervention are an important correlate of educator intervention in instances of GBVH among students, which can help to inform prevention efforts with high school educators.
Evaluating Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Policies in the United States: Lessons Learned.
Klika JB, Murphy CA, Colson F … +9 more , Yordy J, Sabti Samarah EM, Assini-Meytin LC, Brumm S, Daniels K, Thibodeau EL, Merrick MT, Shakeshaft C, Helpingstine CE
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42149578 · Publisher ↗
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a serious public health issue occurring in homes, schools, and other settings. School employee sexual misconduct and abuse of students is a particular subset of CSA that includes "both crimina...
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a serious public health issue occurring in homes, schools, and other settings. School employee sexual misconduct and abuse of students is a particular subset of CSA that includes "both criminal and noncriminal behaviors, that are sexualized and inappropriate in adult-student interactions" (p. 19). Yet, CSA can be prevented before it happens. Policies intending to support this goal are a public health strategy addressing the conditions that allow CSA to occur. Over several decades, states have enacted CSA prevention policies using a variety of strategies, such as education and awareness, school personnel policies, standards of conduct, and legal accountability laws, to reduce or prevent CSA from occurring in schools. While these policy advances represent progress toward the upstream prevention of CSA, there is limited research on whether these state-level policies are achieving their goal of reducing or preventing CSA. We are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate these enacted state school-based CSA prevention laws. Through Phase 1 of this work, we have identified three lessons learned when evaluating these CSA prevention policies, specifically (1) the lack of national, high-quality, and reliable surveillance data; (2) policy discrepancies, or "loopholes," are common; and (3) the need for policy implementation evaluation. This paper discusses these topics and provides future direction for CSA prevention policy evaluation research.
From Listening to Lasting Change: Athlete-Informed Solutions for Safer Sports Environments.
McClain K, Ware A, Smith M … +1 more , Callie M
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42142034 · Publisher ↗
Daily headlines recount abuse that endangers athletes across every level of sport. Existing research demonstrates the devastating and costly personal and public consequences of abuse in and around sporting environments....
Daily headlines recount abuse that endangers athletes across every level of sport. Existing research demonstrates the devastating and costly personal and public consequences of abuse in and around sporting environments. To learn what is needed to prevent the abuse of female athletes, #WeRideTogether, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating abuse in sports, designed a qualitative analysis of publicly available secondary data utilizing a survivor-centered lens. Insights from the nonprofit's boots-on-the-ground engagement with hundreds of stakeholders across athletic environments and academia internationally, and a comprehensive literature review on safeguarding and abuse prevention, contextualized the results. The "Survivor Stories" of 16 female adult athlete-survivors of abuse in sports highlighted key themes: a lack of understanding of the power imbalances at play, a failure to capture the nuances of sporting communities, and shortcomings in prevention education. Findings suggest that athletic communities need to eliminate the stigma around abuse prevention and improve access to tangible, athlete-centered educational information on safeguarding that is trauma-informed and evidence-based. Practical recommendations and subsequent implementation from this research are discussed, providing creative, community-centric approaches to safeguarding that can be adopted at little to no financial cost. By listening to athlete-survivors and presenting safeguarding materials in accessible and actionable ways, this research emphasizes how athletes, parents, coaches, and sports organizers can play a role in preventing abuse in sports.
Lessons on Community Engagement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Portfolio.
Helpingstine CE, Ravi M, Ingram M
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42141886 · Publisher ↗
Community engagement is a cornerstone of effective and fiscally responsible public health initiatives, especially in the prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA). It helps to ensure the voices, experiences, and perspective...
Community engagement is a cornerstone of effective and fiscally responsible public health initiatives, especially in the prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA). It helps to ensure the voices, experiences, and perspectives of those directly affected by CSA prevention are central to research processes. This approach promotes collaboration, trust, and shared decision-making, leading to the development of programs and policies that are responsive to community needs and, therefore, more likely to succeed. This brief report synthesizes the community engagement experiences and lessons learned across nine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded projects focused on the primary prevention of CSA. CDC and CDC Foundation scientific collaborators discussed community engagement with principal investigators (PIs) and project team members during ongoing project monitoring. These informal conversations provided insights into perspectives and strategies for community engagement, as well as the challenges and considerations for engaging communities in prevention research. Detailed notes were taken and compiled to describe these experiences. Findings offer a range of examples of community engagement practices employed by CDC's CSA portfolio recipients and provide insight into lessons learned for researchers and practitioners aiming to strengthen community partnerships in CSA prevention.
How Consistency and Alleged Perpetrator Relationship Affect Adults' Credibility and Coaching Judgements in Child Sexual Abuse Cases.
Carr SMA, Wark A, Bruer KC
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Apr · PMID 42130386 · Publisher ↗
Child sexual abuse (CSA) victims often withhold disclosure due to coaching by the alleged perpetrator to deny the abuse. Adults, however, are generally poor at detecting coached lies in children, potentially because such...
Child sexual abuse (CSA) victims often withhold disclosure due to coaching by the alleged perpetrator to deny the abuse. Adults, however, are generally poor at detecting coached lies in children, potentially because such reports are highly consistent. However, little is known about how the victim-alleged perpetrator relationship influences adults' perceptions of credibility and coaching in CSA cases. In this study, jury-eligible participants ( = 183) read one of six CSA mock-forensic interview transcripts involving a 12-year-old boy giving testimony containing evidence of CSA coaching. The transcripts varied in the consistency of the child's testimony (i.e. consistent or inconsistent) and the child's relationship to the alleged perpetrator (i.e. stepdad, peer, stranger). Results showed that consistent testimony led to higher credibility ratings, whereas inconsistent testimony increased perceptions that the child was coached. The victim-alleged perpetrator relationship did not significantly affect perceptions of credibility of coaching. Overall, these findings indicate that consistency is a powerful cue shaping adults' evaluations of CSA testimony.
Shattered Chains: Shedding Light on Child Sexual Abuse in the Black Community.
Banks-Chatman L
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 Apr · PMID 42126391 · Publisher ↗
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) remains deeply silenced in many Black communities, where cultural stigma, historical trauma, and systemic mistrust often discourage disclosure and limit access to supportive resources. These barr...
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) remains deeply silenced in many Black communities, where cultural stigma, historical trauma, and systemic mistrust often discourage disclosure and limit access to supportive resources. These barriers contribute to delayed intervention, untreated trauma, and long-term psychological, emotional, and relational harms. This theoretical manuscript synthesizes interdisciplinary scholarship to examine CSA disclosure among Black children through three interconnected frameworks: Critical Race Theory, Attachment Theory, and Trauma-Informed Care, which illuminate how structural racism, relational dynamics, and trauma shape children's safety, trust, and willingness to seek help. Using a theory-synthesized conceptual framework approach, this paper integrates cultural, systemic, and relational influences to explain how silence surrounding CSA is produced and sustained within Black families, churches, and community institutions. This manuscript also explores facilitators of disclosure, including caregiver responsiveness, culturally grounded education, and trauma-informed practices that validate children's experiences and reduce stigma. Practical implications are offered for mental health professionals, educators, and faith leaders who seek to create safe and supportive environments that promote early disclosure and healing. By situating CSA within its broader sociocultural and historical context, this manuscript advances a culturally responsive framework to guide prevention, community engagement, and survivor-centered interventions. Breaking the silence requires intentional efforts that honor cultural values, address systemic inequities, and empower trusted adults to protect children and support children's recovery and resilience.
South African Parents' Perspectives and Experiences of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education During Early Childhood.
Theron L, Muller J
J Child Sex Abus · 2026 May · PMID 42126093 · Publisher ↗
Childhood sexual abuse is an increasingly urgent concern, particularly as technological advancements have made it easier to create and distribute harmful content. In South Africa, the incidence of child sexual abuse is v...
Childhood sexual abuse is an increasingly urgent concern, particularly as technological advancements have made it easier to create and distribute harmful content. In South Africa, the incidence of child sexual abuse is very high. Child sexual abuse prevention education, which teaches children about privacy, bodily autonomy, and safety strategies, is a key approach to mitigating risk. However, child sexual abuse prevention remains under-researched in South Africa, particularly regarding parental involvement, and during early childhood, despite evidence that parents play a critical role in educating children about protective behaviors. This study explores South African parents' perspectives and experiences on implementing child sexual abuse prevention education during early childhood. A qualitative approach, involving semi-structured interviews with 12 parents, was employed. The use of reflective thematic analysis identified three main themes: 1) the child sexual abuse narrative, 2) parental experiences with child sexual abuse prevention education, and 3) childhood sexual abuse prevention as a collective effort. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in South Africa to empower parents in early childhood child sexual abuse prevention, emphasizing a collaborative approach to protecting children.
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