Examining Whether Internalized Stigma, Self-Critical Rumination, and Risk-Relevant Factors Are Associated with the...

Research suggests that some people who are attracted to children experience urges to engage in child sexual abuse (CSA) and therefore engage in various coping strategies. Other research indicates that many experience stigma-related stressors related to their attraction (e.g., internalized stigma), which affects their well-being. Such experiences may also lead to high levels of self-criticism. This study aimed to examine whether internalized stigma and self-critical rumination are associated with the proclivity to engage in CSA beyond other risk-relevant factors. A sample of 123 people who were attracted to children was recruited online and completed measures assessing their attraction to children, CSA-supportive beliefs, self-control, sexual fantasy functions, internalized stigma, self-critical rumination regarding their attraction to children, and their propensity to engage in CSA. The results revealed that CSA propensity was correlated with CSA-supportive beliefs, lower self-control, fantasizing for emotional closeness, and self-critical rumination. Regression analyses showed that the belief that sex with children is harmless and self-critical rumination predicted CSA propensity scores. The findings provide new insights into the experiences of people attracted to children. The limitations of this study and future research directions are discussed.