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Online Communities for Child-Attracted Persons as Informal Mental Health Care: Exploring Self-Reported Wellbeing
L M J Bekkers1, E R Leukfeldt1,2, T J Holt3
1The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, Netherlands.
Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment
|January 31, 2023
Summary
Online support communities for child-attracted persons (CAPs) offer benefits like reduced loneliness and suicidal thoughts. These networks provide informal social control and peer support, acting as a stepping stone to professional care.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Online Communities
Background:
- Online support communities are increasingly utilized by child-attracted persons (CAPs).
- Research often highlights negative aspects, overlooking potential therapeutic benefits.
- These communities may offer an alternative to formal treatment settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the clinical and therapeutic utility of online support communities for CAPs.
- To examine the subcultural dynamics and self-reported wellbeing outcomes of participation.
- To understand how these networks influence behavior and mental health.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with moderators, members, and mental health professionals.
- Utilized thematic analysis to examine subcultural dynamics.
- Focused on a Dutch online forum for CAPs.
Main Results:
- Online communities foster informal social control, trust, and relational education.
- Participants reported decreased loneliness, improved stigma coping, and fewer suicidal thoughts.
- Prosocial peer association helped establish moral boundaries regarding behavior towards children.
Conclusions:
- Online support networks can enhance wellbeing and regulate behavior for marginalized CAPs.
- These communities serve as a valuable stepping stone to professional care.
- They offer informal support, overcoming limitations of traditional therapy and extending prevention principles.
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