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Self-Reported Sexual Interest in Children: Sex Differences and Psychosocial Correlates in a University Sample

NCJ Number
163371
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1996) Pages: 39-50
Author(s)
K Smiljanich; J Briere
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A sample of 180 female and 99 male university students was surveyed regarding their sexual interest in children.
Abstract
The survey solicited information on subjects' sexual, physical, and psychological maltreatment as children; their use of pornography that depicted various types of sexual events; sexual functioning; psychological functioning; attitudes; and adult sexual interest in children (ASIIC). Simultaneous-entry discriminant function analysis was performed to predict scores on transformed ASIIC variables when statistically appropriate. Males reported sexual attraction to at least one child more often than did females (22.2 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively). Both males and females reported very low rates of sexual fantasies about children, masturbation to such fantasies, or potential likelihood of sexual contact with a child. Males' sexual attraction to children was associated with lower self-esteem, greater sexual conflicts, more sexual impulsivity, lower scores on the Socialization scale of the California Psychological Inventory, greater use of pornography that depicted consenting adult sex, and more self-reported difficulty in attracting age- appropriate sexual partners. Childhood victimization history and attitudes that supported sexual aggression did not discriminate self-reported sexual attraction to children. 3 tables and 42 references

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