Abstract
Online child sexual abuse is highly prevalent in current society, in part, due to how technologically advanced children and adults have become. While much of the focus has been on perpetrator intervention, it is prudent to consider responses safeguarding children from potential perpetrators. Therefore, this review aimed to identify all the available empirical research on the prevention methods linked to education and awareness to determine the approaches' effectiveness, successes, and failures to aid future interventions. Databases were systematically searched for studies published between 2000 to 2020. Nine studies providing different prevention methods for online child sexual abuse were selected. A total sample of n = 672 and a descriptive approach was used for this study. While the interventions seemed to improve knowledge retainment of online safety, there was no significant change for risky online behavior. These findings provide specific suggestions for future interventions, particularly those focusing on risky online behaviors.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adorjan, M., & Ricciardelli, R. (2019). Student perspectives towards school responses to cyber-risk and safety: the presumption of the prudent digital citizen. Learning, Media and Technology, 44(4), 430–442. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2019.1583671
Ajzen, I., Joyce, N., Sheikh, S., & Cote, N. G. (2011). Knowledge and the prediction of behavior: The role of information accuracy in the theory of planned behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 33(2), 101–117.
Aljuboori, D., Seneviratne-Eglin, E., Swiergala, E., & Guerra, C. (2021). Associations between family support and online sexual abuse in Chilean adolescents: the mediational role of online risk behaviors. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 30(2), 192–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2021.1875280
Boulton, M. J., Boulton, L., Camerone, E., Down, J., Hughes, J., Kirkbride, C., Kirkham, R., Macaulay, P., & Sanders, J. (2016). Enhancing primary school children’s knowledge of online safety and risks with the CATZ Cooperative Cross-Age Teaching Intervention: results from a pilot study. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(10), 609–614. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0046
Chibnall, S, Wallace, M., Leicht, C., & Lunghofer, L. (2006). I-safe evaluation. Final Report. Caliber Association, Fairfax. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/213715.pdf
Child Molestation Research and Prevention Institute. (n.d.). CMRPI Prevention Plan. Retrieved: 7 May 2021, https://www.childmolestationprevention.org/cmrpi-prevention-plan
Christen, A. (2009). Transforming the Classroom for Collaborative Learning in the 21st Century. Techniques: Connecting Education and Careers (J1), 84(1), 28–31.
Crombie, G., & Trinneer, A. (2003). Children and Internet safety: An evaluation of the Missing Program. A report to the Research and Evaluation Section of the National Crime Prevention Centre of Justice Canada. University of Ottawa.
Davis, A. C., Wright, C. J., Temple-Smith, M. J., Hellard, M. E., & Lim, M. S. (2019). A health education website developed to meet young people’s information needs about web-based pornography and sharing of sexually explicit imagery (SCOPE): usability study. JMIR Formative Research, 3(3), e12824. https://doi.org/10.2196/12824
De Santisteban, P., & Gámez-Guadix, M. (2018). Prevalence and risk factors among minors for online sexual solicitations and interactions with adults. The Journal of Sex Research, 55(7), 939–950.
Dobson, A. S., & Ringrose, J. (2016). Sext education: pedagogies of sex, gender and shame in the schoolyards of Tagged and Exposed. Sex Education, 16(1), 8–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2015.1050486
Donovan, D. (2016). How children represent sustainable consumption through participatory action research and co-design of visual narratives. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 40(5), 562–574.
Dwyer, K. K., Bingham, S. G., Carlson, R. E., Prisbell, M., Cruz, A. M., & Fus, D. A. (2004). Communication and connectedness in the classroom: Development of the connected classroom climate inventory. Communication Research Reports, 21(3), 264–272. https://doi.org/10.1080/08824090409359988
Finkelhor, D. (1999). Child sexual abuse: Challenges facing child protection and mental health professionals. In E. Ullmann & W. Hilweg (Eds.), Childhood and Trauma: Separation, Abuse, War (pp. 101–115). Ashgate Pub.
Finkelhor, D., Vanderminden, J., Turner, H., Shattuck, A., & Hamby, S. (2014). Youth exposure to violence prevention programs in a national sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(4), 677–686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.01.010
Frisby, B. N., & Martin, M. M. (2010). Instructor–student and student–student rapport in the classroom. Communication Education, 59(2), 146–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/03634520903564362
Gomez, F. (2016). Rethinking education in the age of technology: The digital revolution and schooling in America. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 17(2), 51–56.
GuardChild. (n.d.). Teenage Sexting Statistics. Retrieved 7 May 2021, https://www.guardchild.com/teenage-sexting-statistics/
Hamilton-Giachritsis, C., Hanson, E., Whittle, H., & Beech, A. (2017). "Everyone deserves to be happy and safe". A mixed methods study exploring how online and offline child sexual abuse impacts young people and how professionals respond to it. NSPCC, University of Bath, University of Birmingham, CEOP. https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1123/impact-online-offline-child-sexual-abuse.pdf
Hartikainen, H., Iivari, N., & Kinnula, M. (2019). Children’s design recommendations for online safety education. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction, 22, 100146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2019.100146
Holloway, D., Green, L., & Livingstone, S. (2013). Zero to eight. Young children and their internet use. LSE, London: EU Kids Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1930&=&context=ecuworks2013&=&sei-redir=1&referer=https%253A%252F%252Fscholar.google.com%252Fscholar%253Fhl%253Den%2526as_sdt%253D0%25252C26%2526q%253Dinternet%252Buse%252Bchildren%2526btnG%253D#search=%22internet%20use%20children%22
Hudson, K. (2018). Preventing child sexual abuse through education: The work of Stop it Now! Wales. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 24(1), 99–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2017.1383088
Jones, L. M., Mitchell, K. J., & Finkelhor, D. (2012). Trends in youth internet victimization: Findings from three youth internet safety surveys 2000–2010. Journal of Adolescent Health, 50(2), 179–186.
Knack, N., Winder, B., Murphy, L., & Fedoroff, J. P. (2019). Primary and secondary prevention of child sexual abuse. International Review of Psychiatry, 31(2), 181–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2018.1541872
Larrañaga, E., Yubero, S., Navarro, R., & Ovejero, A. (2018). From traditional bullying to cyberbullying: Cybervictimization among higher education students. In Cyberbullying at university in international contexts (pp 99–111). Routledge.
Lenhart, A. (2009). Teens and sexting: How and why minor teens are sending sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images via text messaging. Pew Internet & American Life Project. http://ncdsv.org/images/PewInternet_TeensAndSexting_12-2009.pdf
Magarey, A. M., Pettman, T. L., Wilson, A., & Mastersson, N. (2013). Changes in primary school children's behavior, knowledge, attitudes, and environments related to nutrition and physical activity. International Scholarly Research Notices Obesity, 2013(752081). https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/752081
McGorry, P. D., Purcell, R., Hickie, I. B., & Jorm, A. F. (2007). Investing in youth mental health is a best buy. Medical Journal of Australia, 187(7), 5–7.
Mikton, C., & Butchart, A. (2009). Child maltreatment prevention: a systematic review of reviews. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 87, 353–361.
Mishna, F., Cook, C., Saini, M., Wu, M. J., & MacFadden, R. (2011). Interventions to prevent and reduce cyber abuse of youth: A systematic review. Research on Social Work Practice, 21(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731509351988
Möher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. Annals of Internal Medicine, 151(4), 264–269. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-4-200908180-00135
NetClean. (2018). Blocking as a way of stopping child sexual abuse material. Retrieved May 7, 2021, from https://www.netclean.com/2018/06/27/blocking-as-a-way-of-stopping-child-sexual-abuse-material/
Nixon, C. A., Moore, H. J., Douthwaite, W., Gibson, E. L., Vogele, C., & KreichaufToyBox-study group, S. (2012). Identifying effective behavioural models and behavior change strategies underpinning preschool-and school-based obesity prevention interventions aimed at 4–6-year-olds: a systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 13, 106–117.
Patton, G. C., Olsson, C. A., Skirbekk, V., Saffery, R., Wlodek, M. E., Azzopardi, P. S., & Sawyer, S. M. (2018). Adolescence and the next generation. Nature, 554(7693), 458–466.
Pegg, S. (2017). Online grooming and the law. The Law Society Gazette.
Pereda, N., Guilera, G., Forns, M., & Gómez-Benito, J. (2009). The prevalence of child sexual abuse in community and student samples: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(4), 328–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2009.02.007
Piché, L., Mathesius, J., Lussier, P., & Schweighofer, A. (2018). Preventative services for sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse, 30(1), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063216630749
Quayle, E., Lööf, L., Soo, K., & Ainsaar, M. (2012). Methodological issues. In M. Ainsaar & L. Lööf (Eds.), Online behavior related to child sexual abuse: Literature report (pp. 9–16). ROBERT.
Ryckman, L. F., Guerra, C., & Finch, A. (2020). Strategies to prevent online sexual abuse of children: A systematic review of the literature protocol. Social Science Protocols, 3, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.7565/ssp.2020.2808
RAINN. (2021). Talking to your kids about sexual assault. Retrieved 7 May 2021, from https://www.rainn.org/articles/talking-your-kids-about-sexual-assault
Rideout, V., & Robb, M. B. (2019). The common sense census: Media use by tweens and teens. Common Sense Media.
Sandler, J. C., Freeman, N. J., & Socia, K. M. (2008). Does a watched pot boil? A time-series analysis of New York State’s sex offender registration and notification law. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 14(4), 284. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013881
Savestanan, P. C. N. (2011). Thailand's Response to Online Child Thailand's Response to Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Its Progress and Challenges [PowerPoint slides]. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Thailand: Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice. https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_20/Thematic_Discussions/Asian-Group_Thailands-response_Savestanan.pdf
Say, G. N., Babadağı, Z., Karabekiroğlu, K., Yüce, M., & Akbaş, S. (2015). Abuse characteristics and psychiatric consequences associated with online sexual abuse. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(6), 333–336. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0494
Schilder, J. D., Brusselaers, M. B., & Bogaerts, S. (2016). The effectiveness of an intervention to promote awareness and reduce online risk behavior in early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(2), 286–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0401-2
Vanderhoven, E., Schellens, T., & Valcke, M. (2014). Educating teens about the risks on social network sites. An intervention study in secondary education. Comunicar. Media Education Research Journal, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.3916/C43-2014-12
Wishart, J. M., Oades, C. E., & Morris, M. (2007). Using online role play to teach internet safety awareness. Computers & Education, 48(3), 460–473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2005.03.003
World Health Organization. (1999). Consultation on child abuse prevention. Social Change and Mental Health Violence and Injury Prevention.
World Health Organization. (2020). Child maltreatment. Retrieved 7 May 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest on behalf of all authors.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patterson, A., Ryckman, L. & Guerra, C. A Systematic Review of the Education and Awareness Interventions to Prevent Online Child Sexual Abuse. Journ Child Adol Trauma 15, 857–867 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-022-00440-x
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-022-00440-x