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Schuler M, Gieseler H, Schweder K, von Heyden M, Beier KM
Characteristics of the Users of Troubled Desire, a Web-Based Self-management App for Individuals With Sexual Interest in Children: Descriptive Analysis of Self-assessment Data
An Online Self-Management Application for Individuals with Sexual Interest in Children
Miriam Schuler;
Hannes Gieseler;
Katharina Schweder;
Maximilian von Heyden;
Klaus M. Beier
ABSTRACT
Background:
Despite the high prevalence of child sexual abuse and the increasing amount of available child sexual abuse material, there is a global shortage of preventive interventions focusing on individuals at risk of sexual offending.
Objective:
Troubled Desire aims to address this shortage by offering self-assessment and self-management training modules for individuals who feel sexually attracted to prepubescent and early pubescent children (ie, pedophilic and hebephilic sexual interest) in seven different language versions.
Methods:
The present study analyzed characteristics of users within the first 30 months (25.10.2017-25.04.2020).
Results:
The self-assessment was completed by 4161 users from all over the world. The majority (78.9%, n=3281) reported pedophilic and/or hebephilic sexual interest. Of those with pedophilic and/or hebephilic sexual interest, 72.8% (n=2390) have used child sexual abuse material and 41.5% (n=1363) indicated they had sexually abused a child or children. The vast majority of offenses were committed within the “Dunkelfeld” (ie, not known to legal authorities).
Conclusions:
These results illustrate the need for expansion and establishment of global preventive interventions for pedophilic and hebephilic individuals.
Citation
Please cite as:
Schuler M, Gieseler H, Schweder K, von Heyden M, Beier KM
Characteristics of the Users of Troubled Desire, a Web-Based Self-management App for Individuals With Sexual Interest in Children: Descriptive Analysis of Self-assessment Data