Sexual developmental histories of adolescents who engaged in harmful sexual behaviour

Abstract

Researchers have demonstrated a range of factors that are associated with adolescents who engage in problematic or harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) including adverse childhood experiences, disruptive family organisation, poor attachment or attachment style deficits, social isolation, and substance abuse. There is, however, a paucity of research examining sexual development histories in adolescent males who have engaged in HSB. This study describes the sexual developmental histories that precede such behaviour, of 277 adolescent males who were referred for assessment of HSB in New Zealand (NZ). It informs the realities of practice and directs us to the need for research examining the patterns of early sexual development so as to identify possible risk factors and pathways for concerning sexual behaviour.