Examining the Cross-Country Differences in the Adverse Childhood Experiences Associated With Men’s Interest in and Perpetration of Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

TL;DR

This study explores how childhood trauma affects men's interest in and perpetration of technology-facilitated child sexual abuse across three countries.

Contribution

The study reveals cross-country differences in how adverse childhood experiences relate to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation.

Findings

ACEs were more common among perpetrators in the UK and US compared to Australia.

Sexual abuse and neglect were strongly linked to TF-CSEA perpetration.

Emotional abuse showed stronger effects in the UK than in Australia.

Abstract

Rates of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse (TF-CSEA) have substantially increased over the past decade. Addressing associated factors such as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may be critical for large-scale prevention. This study examined the relationship between ACEs and adult men categorised as having (a) no TF-CSEA interest or perpetration, (b) TF-CSEA interest only, and (c) TF-CSEA perpetration. Independent quota-based samples from Australia (n = 1,939), the United Kingdom (n = 1,506), and the United States (n = 1,473) were analysed, with data weighted to be demographically comparable to the male populations. Results show that ACEs were markedly more prevalent among TF-CSEA perpetrators, with proportions higher in the United Kingdom (28.2%–67.8%) and United States (35.9%–64.0%) than in Australia (16.0%–35.6%). Multivariate analyses indicate that emotional abuse (adjsuted OR = 0.52), sexual abuse (aOR = 1.77), and household incarceration (aOR = 2.05) were associated with TF-CSEA interest only, while sexual abuse (aOR = 3.64) and neglect (aOR = 2.27) were associated with TF-CSEA perpetration, relative to no TF-CSEA interest or perpetration, and after adjusting for other ACE types. Furthermore, emotional (aOR = 2.55) and sexual abuse (aOR = 2.10) were more likely for the TF-CSEA perpetration than the interest only group. Interaction effects showed that emotional abuse had a stronger association in the United Kingdom than in Australia, and neglect in the United Kingdom than in the United States. These findings underscore the association between childhood adversity, especially sexual abuse, and TF-CSEA, and highlight the importance of policies addressing ACEs as part of a broader prevention strategy.

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