Abstract
Background: Problematic sexual behaviour (PSB) is the term used to describe sexual behaviour which is deemed outside of the realm of typical age-appropriate behaviour for young people. It has been estimated that between one fifth and one third of child sexual abuse in the UK involves other young people as the perpetrators. Research into PSB has typically been quantitative rather than qualitative which has thus far provided much important and valuable information. However, research has also indicated that young people could be conceptualised as potential experts on the prevention of harmful sexual behaviour through consultation about their own experiences of engaging in PSB. As such, young people have much to offer in helping to better understand thoughts, feelings, motivations, and behaviours which underpin PSB.Design: Semi-Structured interviews were undertaken with sixteen young males aged 12-19 who were undertaking specialist therapeutic intervention to address PSB. This semi-structured interview addressed early life experiences as well as their thoughts, feelings, motivations and behaviours related to their PSB. The interviews were then transcribed, and transcripts uploaded to Nvivo where reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes.
Results: The major themes identified were ‘A lost childhood: Unmet emotional needs of young people with PSB’, ‘Normalising the Abnormal’ and ‘A young person’s narrative of their PSB: Considering the dialectics’.
| Date of Award | Jul 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Teresa Rushe (Supervisor), Katrina McLaughlin (Supervisor) & Peter Hepper (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- Problematic sexual behaviour
- harmful sexual behaviour
- adolescent sexual offending
- motivation
- aetiology
- pathway