Pornography in the lives of sexually reactive children and adolescents

Sex crimes against children and child sexual abuse are significant social and public health problems. Only within the last twenty-five years has attention been given to children and adolescents who victimize their peers. In the United States, these sexually reactive children and adolescents comprise considerable proportions of all arrests for sexual offenses; however, research about the role of pornography in their lives is virtually nonexistent. This descriptive, exploratory study of 160 sexually reactive children and adolescents describes the characteristics of those who use pornography and those who do not. In addition, this study examines the associations between pornography use and abuse history, psychiatric symptoms, nonsexual criminal, antisocial, and delinquent behaviors, and sexually aggressive behaviors among sexually reactive children and adolescents. This secondary analysis uses data from an ongoing study that is examining children and adolescents who have been removed from abusive homes and placed elsewhere, usually in foster care. These children and adolescents are currently at risk to sexually victimize other children. Chi-square and individual odds ratio analyses were employed to examine the associations between use of pornography with abuse history, psychiatric symptoms, nonsexual criminal, antisocial, and delinquent behaviors, and sexually aggressive behaviors. Several significant positive associations were found between pornography use and psychiatric symptoms, nonsexual criminal, antisocial, and delinquent behaviors, and sexually aggressive behaviors. Treatment recommendations for nurses and mental health professionals caring for children and adolescents in a variety of settings are offered. Moreover, findings from this investigation suggest assessment and preventive strategies that may inform future social policy, mental health, and criminal justice recommendations