Abstract:
As a clinical population, children with problematic sexualised behaviour(s) (PSB) have
specialised assessment and intervention needs. This study examined the PSB of 55 children
(36 males and 19 females) within a clinical population aged between 5 and 12 years. Children
were identified by child care, protection and treatment services within the Auckland and wider
Northland area. Primary caregivers provided demographic information and completed the Child
Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI). All paper and
electronic clinical files were reviewed for the child’s maltreatment histories, significant life
experiences, PSB (including type and victim characteristics) and non-sexual problem
behaviours. Children were categorised into Johnson’s (1991, 2002) PSB typologies of Sexually
Reactive, Extensive Behaviours and Molestation behaviours based on their PSB. Overall, it was
evident that children with PSB are not a homogeneous group. PSB varied according to severity,
use of coercion, force, type of behaviour, and with regard to gender and age. The analysis
confirmed previous findings that child sexual abuse (CSA) is not the exclusive pathway to PSB:
53 percent of the sample did not have a known history of CSA. Overall, maltreatment histories
did not impact upon the type and nature of PSB. However, histories of intrusive forms of sexual
abuse (penetration and oral-genital contact) were related to clinically significant scores on the
CSBI and interpersonal PSB rather than self-focused PSB behaviours. Gender differences in
the nature of PSB included that females were less likely to digitally penetrate or to perpetrate in
an oral manner. Males were more likely to force or coerce their victims. Children who exhibit
PSB had high levels of externalising behaviours as measured by the CBCL, specifically
aggressive/violent and bullying behaviours. The implications of these findings are that clinicians
need to de-emphases the assumed causal relationship between CSA and PSB and take a wide
contextual approach to the assessment and intervention with children with PSB. Further
research to investigate effective therapeutic interventions for distinct PSB typologies and
longitudinal research to establish the course of PSB are recommended.