Examining sexual grooming behaviors of children: Variations by relationship to the perpetrator

Sexual grooming is present in almost all cases of child sexual abuse (CSA). However, limited research has examined whether sexual grooming varies according to the perpetrator's relationship to the child.

To examine differences in sexual grooming behaviors and abuse characteristics across four perpetrator relationship types: family members, friends/romantic partners, acquaintances, and community members.

Participants were 918 adult survivors of CSA recruited from the United States through an online research platform.

Participants completed the Sexual Grooming Scale-Victim Version (SGS-V) and information about the characteristics of the CSA which were compared across perpetrator relationship categories.

Sexual grooming behaviors were reported in nearly all cases. However, some significant differences in both situational factors and grooming tactics emerged based upon by relationship type. Intrafamilial abuse was associated with younger victim age, longer duration, abuse occurring primarily in the home, and more instructions not to disclose. Community perpetrators had the highest overall number of grooming behaviors, particularly those involving gaining access, isolation, and trust development, often within youth-serving organizational contexts. Friend/romantic partner perpetrators were associated with adolescent victims and greater use of emotionally intimate strategies. Abuse perpetrated by acquaintances involved fewer overt grooming behaviors overall. Despite these differences, several core grooming behaviors were consistently reported across relationship types.

Findings suggest that while core sexual grooming dynamics remain consistent across contexts, there are some differences in specific strategies used based upon the perpetrators' relationship to the child that may inform prevention programming, professional training, and forensic assessment.