Online Help-Seeking Among Youth Victims of Sexual Violence Before and During COVID-19 (2016-2021): Analysis of Hotline Use Trends.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Three years since the onset of COVID-19, pandemic-related trends in child sexual abuse (CSA) remain poorly understood. Common administrative surveillance metrics may have underestimated abuse during the pandemic, given youths' limited access to mandatory reporters. Research using anonymous service-use data showed increased violence-related online help-seeking but overlooked youth-specific help-seeking for CSA during COVID-19. Understanding pandemic-related trends in CSA can inform abuse detection practices and mental health service provision for youth victims.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to harness anonymous help-seeking data from the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline (NSAOH) to glean insights about CSA occurrence in the United States during the C

SUBMITTER: Goodman KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10457693 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature