Identifying typologies of adverse experiences and psychosocial functioning for youth who sexually harm

Youths who engage in harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) have often experienced childhood adversity and psychosocial health problems. Greater understanding of how developmental risks cluster together and/or differ within this heterogeneous population is needed.

This research aimed to further knowledge of the aetiology and treatment needs of youths with HSBs by identifying typological differences based on co-occurrence of developmental risk factors, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Data was derived from clinician case files of 386 Australian male youths receiving specialised treatment following adjudication for sexual offences.

Latent class analysis was used to determined risk-factor based typologies. Differences in offence characteristics across classes were examined using Chi-square tests and ANOVA.

Four distinct profiles of young males with HSBs were identified: Limited Risk, Socially Excluded, Antisocial, and High Adversity. Characteristics of sexual harm, including offence setting, and victim age and sex, differed across these classes.

Findings suggest differential pathways to youth HSB, and have relevance for informing intervention efforts, to ensure responses meet the varying needs of young people.