Problematic Sexual Behavior Among Children: A Meta-Analysis of Demographic and Clinical Correlates

Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) are behaviors that involve sexual body parts and that are developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful among children ages 12 and younger. PSB has been associated with different types of maltreatment as well as clinical difficulties, albeit inconsistently. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the current research on correlates of PSB, specifically child demographic factors (i.e., gender, age), maltreatment history (i.e., childhood sexual abuse [CSA], childhood physical abuse [CPA]), and comorbid clinical symptoms (i.e., externalizing and internalizing problems). A total of 47 samples (n = 15,562 children) were included. Males and younger children were slightly more likely to exhibit PSB (g = .12 and -.21, respectively). CSA was associated with PSB (g = .71); however, the strength of this relationship differed by caregiver gender and publication year. CPA was also related to PSB (g = .32), but was more strongly associated when PSB was limited to the interpersonally intrusive subtype of PSB (g = .46). Externalizing (g = .95) and internalizing (g = .63) symptoms were also linked with PSB, with externalizing difficulties evincing the strongest association of all of the correlates. These results are discussed in the context of advancing research on PSB, specifically addressing several limitations in the current literature. These include inconsistent assessment of PSB and CSA, as well as the pressing need to develop a more robust measure of PSB. Finally, a more comprehensive assessment of the correlates of PSB is needed to address significant common method variance.