Scoping Review of the Definitions Used to Describe and Understand Harmful Sexual Behaviors in Children and Young People.

ABSTRACT: There is a growing body of evidence that adolescents, and other children, are responsible for a significant proportion of sexual abuse against children. However, there are substantial differences in how this phenomenon is defined and conceptualized between and within sectors. This scoping review explored the current definitions of harmful sexual behaviors (HSB), and other similar terms, used across a range of stakeholder groups. In all, 141 papers were reviewed from both empirical and gray literature sources, including key policy and practice documents. Included papers needed to list a clear definition for the behavior of interest. There was disagreement and inconsistency across the included papers in their conceptualization of harmful, abusive, or problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in chil

SUBMITTER: Hunt GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11370191 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature