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Cited by 302Cybercrime and Law Enforcement StudiesAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthImpact of Technology on Adolescents

Risk factors for and impact of online sexual solicitation of youth

Open access
Mitchell, Kimberly J.·2001·JAMA
DOI 10.1001/jama.285.23.3011
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Abstract

CONTEXT: Health care professionals, educators, and others are increasingly called upon to advise parents and policymakers about risks posed to children by Internet use. However, little scientific information exists on the experiences of children online. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors surrounding online sexual solicitations of youth and distress due to solicitation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Telephone survey (August 1999-February 2000) of a random sample of 1501 youth aged 10 through 17 years who were regular Internet users. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and behavioral characteristics associated with solicitation risk and distress due to solicitation. RESULTS: Nineteen percent of youth who used the Internet regularly were the targets of unwanted sexual solicitation in the last year. Girls (P<.001), older teens (P =.005), troubled youth (P =.004), frequent Internet users (P =.01), chat room participants (P<.001), and those who communicated online with strangers (P<.001) were at greater risk. Twenty-five percent of the solicited youth reported high levels of distress after solicitation incidents. Risk of distress was more common among the younger youth (P =.005), those who received aggressive solicitations (the solicitor attempted or made offline contact) (P =.001), and those who were solicited on a computer away from their home (P =.001). CONCLUSIONS: Many young people who use the Internet encounter unwanted sexual overtures. Health care professionals, educators, and parents should be prepared to educate youth about how to respond to online sexual solicitations, including encouraging youth to disclose and report such encounters and to talk about them.

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Crossref · 10.1001/jama.285.23.3011

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  • High-risk youth show greater odds of receiving sexual solicitation and engaging in riskier contact behaviors.

    “In addition, high-risk youth show greater odds of receiving sexual solicitation and engaging in riskier contact behaviors (65, 66).”

    From Developmental Trajectories and Outcomes of Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies (2026) · cites this paper as [65]

    The Results and Table 1 (p. 3013) show higher odds of sexual solicitation among troubled youth and youth reporting risky online behavior, including talking to strangers. They do not show that high-risk youth have greater odds of engaging in risky contact behaviors; those behaviors are examined as predictors of solicitation, not outcomes. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • In the DOTS framework, Path A captures adult grooming or solicitation, in which adults typically unknown to adolescents initiate or escalate sexualized online contact.

    “In the DOTS framework, Path A captures adult grooming or solicitation. Adults, typically unknown to adolescents, initiate or escalate sexualized online contact.”

    From Developmental Trajectories and Outcomes of Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies (2026) · cites this paper as [65]

    The Variables section (page not specified in our copy) defines online sexual solicitation as requests for sexual activity, sexual talk, or sexual information, including requests made by adults. The Results and Comment sections link solicitation risk to communicating with strangers, but do not establish that soliciting adults were typically unknown to the adolescents or describe a grooming sequence in which adults escalate contact. The DOTS Path A label is the citing authors’ framing, not a finding attributed to this paper. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Path A is linked to communication with strangers, high-contact platform use, and markers of psychosocial vulnerability.

    “This pattern is linked to communication with strangers, high-contact platform use, and markers of psychosocial vulnerability (13, 65).”

    From Developmental Trajectories and Outcomes of Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies (2026) · cites this paper as [65]

  • Young people who access the internet most frequently have a greater probability of experiencing sexual solicitations online.

    “Young people who access the internet most frequently have a greater probability of experiencing sexual solicitations online (Baumgartner et al., 2010;De Graaf & Vanwesenbeeck, 2006;Mitchell et al., 2001).”

    From A review of young people's vulnerabilities to online grooming (2013) · cites this paper as Mitchell et al., 2001

  • A history of offline child sexual abuse is considered a risk factor for future online victimization.

    “A history of offline child sexual abuse is considered a risk factor for future victimization online (Helweg-Larsen et al., 2011;Mitchell et al., 2001;Mitchell et al., 2007;Noll, Shenk, Barnes, & Putnam, 2009;Wolak et al., 2008).”

    From A review of young people's vulnerabilities to online grooming (2013) · cites this paper as Mitchell et al., 2001

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Turow J. The Internet and the family: the view from parents, the view from the press. 1999. Available at: http://www.appcpenn.org/appc/reports/rep27 .pdf. Accessed May 14, 2001.
  2. Websense: A Study of Teens and Their Use of the Internet. Norwalk, Conn: Yankelovich Partners; 1999: 1-54.
  3. Kirby D, Coyle K. School-based programs to re- duce sexual risk-taking behavior. Child Youth Serv Rev. 1997;19:415-436.

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Authors
Mitchell, K. J.
Affiliations
University of New Hampshire (US)
Corresponding author
Mitchell, Kimberly J.
ORCID
Mitchell, Kimberly J.
Venue
JAMA
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2001-06-20
Volume
285
Issue
23
Pages
3011
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
DOI
10.1001/jama.285.23.3011
OpenAlex
W2158296737
Cited by
302
References
14
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 16
FWCI
22.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of New Hampshire Scholars Repository (University of New Hampshire at Manchester) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Keywords
online sexual solicitation, child sexual abuse, adolescent internet use, risk factors, psychological distress, chat rooms, gender differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attitude to Computers, Child, Data Collection, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Psychology, Social, Risk Factors, Risk-Taking, Sexual Behavior, United States, Logistic Models, Internet

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