Understanding the needs of individuals at risk of perpetrating child sexual abuse: a practitioner perspective

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Goodier, S. and Lievesley, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-4957-258X, 2018. Understanding the needs of individuals at risk of perpetrating child sexual abuse: a practitioner perspective. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 18 (1), pp. 77-98. ISSN 2473-2850 (Forthcoming)

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2018.1432185

Abstract

Research estimates that as many as one in twenty children in the UK have been a victim of child sexual abuse. The scale of this problem motivates prevention efforts, however there is an apparent absence of preventative intervention for those individuals who are concerned about their sexual preference for children, including those who have not committed an offence. Due to the sensitive nature of child sexual abuse and stigma surrounding paedophilia, individuals who are concerned about their sexual interests in children are unlikely to willingly participate in research. By investigating the experiences of staff that are employed by an organisation offering an anonymous helpline for people who experience sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children, this research aims to develop understanding of the needs of those individuals, in order to establish how child sexual abuse might be prevented. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five practitioners from a sexual abuse prevention organisation and thematic analysis revealed three main themes; Moving service users forward, Barriers to intervention and Prevention: Missing pieces. The first theme identifies ways in which practitioners may help service users to identify their problem, associated risk factors and how they might begin to move forward. The second theme addresses certain factors that prevent service users from accessing or engaging with primary interventions. Finally, the third theme discusses the ways in which primary prevention could be built upon, by considering participants experiences that are shaped by their work in the field of primary intervention, and their experience of service users. This is the first time the needs of those who may benefit from primary prevention in the UK have been explored in this way; therefore each theme is discussed in relation to primary prevention of child sexual abuse.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice

Creators:

Goodier, S. and Lievesley, R.

Publisher:

Routledge

Date:

2018

Volume:

Number: