The first objective is to investigate who the PMSA are, what strategies and motives they use to approach minors online, what sexual activities they do on the Internet and whether they are satisfied with their (sexual) wellbeing. The second objective…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Personality disorders and disturbances in behaviour
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Sociodemographic characteristics are asked, including age, gender, education,
marital status, employment, judicial convictions, and psychological assistance.
Eleven self-report questionnaires are included:
1. The Personality Inventory for DSM-5-25 (PID-5-25; Van der Heijden et al.,
2014);
2. The Self Concept and Identity Measure (SCIM; Kaufman et al., 2015);
3. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16; Bjureberg et al.,
2016);
4. The Utrechtse Coping Lijst; subscales Active tackling, Passive reacting, and
Avoiding (UCL; Schreurs et al., 1988);
5. The Coping Using Sex Inventory (CUSI; Cortoni & Marshall, 2001);
6. The UCLA Loneliness scale version 3 (UCLA; Russell, 1996);
7. The Well-Being Questionnaire (W-BQ-12; Pouwer et al., 2000);
8. The Internet Sex Screening Test (ISST; Delmonico & Miller, 2003);
9. The Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS-18; B*the et al., 2018);
10. The Sexuality Scale (SS; Snell & Papini, 1989);
11. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; Rosen et al., 1997).
Secondary outcome
The PMSA groups are asked to participate in a single interview to deepen the
received information of the questionnaires to further investigate the
strategies and motives to approach minors for sexual activities on the
Internet. The interviews are semi-structured using a topic list of general
topics based on the literature and the findings of the questionnaires.
Follow-up questions depend on the input of the interviewees.
Background summary
Sexual activities on the Internet have increased over the past two decades
(Barrada et al., 2019). These activities are very diverse and range from
seeking information and using dating applications for engaging in intimate
relationships (Doornwaard et al., 2017) to online child sexual abuse (DeHart et
al., 2016). Online child sexual abuse includes the possession, production, and
distribution of pornographic materials depicting minors and approaching and
soliciting minors for sexual abuse and/or developing a sexual relationship
(Kloess et al., 2014; Quayle, 2016). It is a phenomenon that has increased and
facilitated in recent years due to the accessibility of the internet (Kloess et
al., 2019). According to some researchers, there is even a transition from
offline to online offenses (Tener et al., 2015). Therefore, research into both
online and offline child sexual offenders is important.
Sexual offenders are a heterogeneous group and can be divided into various
types. Relevant for this study are online and offline child sexual offenders.
Several studies have shown differences and similarities between both groups in
cognition, emotions, personality, behavior and motives of abuse (e.g.,
Babchishin et al., 2011, 2015; Elliott et al., 2013; Houtepen et al., 2014;
Neutze et al., 2011; Seto et al., 2012; Webb et al., 2007). Furthermore, online
sexual offenders can also be divided into various subgroups (e.g., Bergen et
al., 2014; Briggs et al., 2011; DeHart et al., 2016; Kleijn & Bogaerts, 2020;
Tener et al., 2015; Webster et al., 2012), which also applies to offline sexual
offenders (e.g., Lanning, 2010; Ward & Hudson, 1998). However, the above
studies do not provide in-depth comparative studies between online and offline
child sexual offenders. To illustrate, for the PMSA group there is hardly any
knowledge about their personality characteristics, (sexual) strategies, and
motives. Therefore, this study aims to gain insight into this subgroup by
focusing on crime-related factors, such as personality dysfunctions, emotional
dysregulation and dysfunctions with (sexual) coping strategies. We distinguish
two groups of PMSA: convicted PMSA in treatment in an FPC or outpatient center
(PMSA in treatment) and PMSA not convicted nor in treatment and recruited via
Stop it Now! Vlaanderen (PMSA not in treatment). These two PMSA groups are
compared with a group of downloaders of pornographic materials depicting
minors, a group of offline sexual offenders and a community sample with no
prior convictions.
With this study we aim to contribute to both research and clinical practice.
First of all, we aim to provide more insight into personality characteristics
and offense strategies and motives of online and offline child sexual
offenders. Furthermore, we aim to receive more understanding of online sexual
activities against minors of individuals from the general population.
Therefore, this study is not only limited to individuals who are convicted and
in treatment. In addition, despite the fact that online and offline sexual
offenders make up about 15 to 20% of the total forensic population,
psychologist and practitioners working in FPCs and outpatient centers often
have to deal with patients who sexually exploit minors online and offline.
Therefore, there is a need for more information on personality, cognitions,
emotions, behavior and motives of these groups which can contribute to the
treatment of these individuals to tackle child sexual abuse.
The following research questions are central in this study:
1. What are the personality and identity characteristics, the self-regulation
and (sexual) coping strategies, and the motives of PMSA?
2. What sexual activities do PMSA do on the Internet and are they satisfied
with their (sexual) wellbeing?
3. What are similarities and differences between PMSA, CP in treatment, CSO
offline, and a community sample, based on their personality and identity
characteristics, self-regulation and (sexual) coping strategies and motives,
and (sexual) wellbeing?
4. Within the sex offender groups and the community sample, can homogeneous
classes be distinguished on the basis of personality and identity
characteristics, self-regulation and (sexual) coping strategies and motives,
and (sexual) wellbeing?
Study objective
The first objective is to investigate who the PMSA are, what strategies and
motives they use to approach minors online, what sexual activities they do on
the Internet and whether they are satisfied with their (sexual) wellbeing. The
second objective is to investigate whether the PMSA are a distinctive group of
sexual offenders. They will be compared with online child pornography
offenders, offline child sexual offenders and a community sample based on
personality characteristics and dysfunctions, wellbeing, strategies, and
motives.
Study design
The study has a cross-sectional design in which participants will answer nine
questions about sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education,
relationship status, current employment, judicial convictions and psychological
assistance) and complete eleven self-report questionnaires at one time point.
In addition, two groups (PMSA in treatment and PMSA not in treatment) are asked
to participate in a single interview to deepen the received information of the
questionnaires.
Study burden and risks
Possible burden and risks of the study for the participants include the time to
complete the questionnaires. In addition, some items from the self-report
questionnaires and interview can be confrontational. To minimize these burden
and risks as much as possible, the participants are informed that they can
complete the questionnaires at their own tempo and with sufficient breaks. In
addition, the self-report and interview questions are discussed in advance with
the participants so that they are well informed. They are also informed that
they do not have to answer questions they do not want to answer and they can
withdraw from the study at any time, without giving any reason. If the
participants feel confronted by some of the questions or if they have any
questions about the study, they can always contact the principal investigator
(Manon Kleijn), the heads of treatment from Fivoor and the independent expert
Peter de Looff.
For the PMSA not in treatment, the questions will first be discussed with the
researchers of Stop it Now! Vlaanderen. Stop it Now is an organization
preventing child sexual abuse by offering help to people who have sexually
abused minors or who are concerned to do so in the future. The researchers of
Stop it Now! Vlaanderen will share our study via advertisements on their social
media platforms. In their advertisements, the researchers will mention the
questions of the questionnaires and interview, so that the participants are
well informed. In addition, the participants are informed that any new fact of
sexual abuse of a minor will be reported to Stop it Now! Vlaanderen. If they
have any questions about this or if they have other questions about the study,
they can always contact the principal investigator (Manon Kleijn) and/or Stop
it Now! Vlaanderen.
Warandelaan 2
Tilburg 5037AB
NL
Warandelaan 2
Tilburg 5037AB
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Dutch language;
Age 18 - 70 years old;
Forensic patients who are convicted and/or in treatment for a sexual offence
against minor victims, more specifically: online grooming offenses (i.e.,
approaching minors on the Internet for sexual activities), child pornography
offenses (i.e., accessing, downloading, possessing, and/or distributing
pornographic materials depicting minors), and offline child sexual offenses
(i.e., sexually abusing minors in person);
General population with no prior offenses.
Exclusion criteria
IQ under 70;
Patients diagnosed with *schizophrenia and other psychopathic disorders* who
are experiencing a psychotic episode and/or exhibiting severe symptoms due to
their psychotic vulnerability and lack of resilience during the study;
Insufficient knowledge and understanding of the Dutch language.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL79265.028.21 |