Persuasion strategies and sexual solicitations and interactions in online sexual grooming of adolescents: Modeling direct and indirect pathways

Expressions of love, care, and affection for the victim were identified as a recurring tactic across eight articles.

“Expressions of love, care, and affection for the victim were identified as a recurring tactic across eight articles (De Santisteban et al., 2018; Gámez-Guadix et al., 2018; Kloess et al., 2017, 2019; Powell et al., 2021; SeymourSmith & Kloess, 2021; K. Thomas etal., 2023; Whittle etal., 2015).”

In Gámez-Guadix et al. (2018), deception was most commonly related to presenting as younger and closer to the victim's age, sharing similar hobbies/interests, or pretending to be someone else for persuasion or blackmail.

“In the study by Gámez-Guadix etal. (2018), the use of deception was most commonly related to an individual presenting as (a) younger and closer to the victim's age, (b) sharing similar hobbies/ interests, and (c) pretending to be someone else (for the purpose of persuasion or blackmail).”

Being the target of bribery was associated with higher rates of experiencing sexual solicitation and sexually exploitative and abusive interactions.

“and that this was associated with higher rates of experiencing sexual solicitation, and sexually exploitative and abusive interactions respectively.”

Gámez-Guadix et al. (2018) found that 45% of victims in their sample had been the target of bribery.

“More specifically, Gámez-Guadix etal. (2018) found that 45% of victims in their sample had been the target of bribery,”

The overall prevalence rate of 7.2% (Gámez-Guadix et al., 2018b) was reasonable, as it only reflected sexual interaction.

“Therefore, the overall prevalence rate of 7.2% presented above (Gámez-Guadix et al., 2018b) was reasonable, as it only reflected sexual interaction.”

Three prevalence rates were strikingly low, with 5.4%, 6.5%, and 7.2%.

“Three prevalence rates were strikingly low, with 5.4% (Finkelhor et al., 2022), 6.5% (Wachs et al., 2012), and 7.2% (Gámez-Guadix et al., 2018b).”

In Gámez-Guadix et al. (2018b), the prevalence rate was calculated based only on one subscale of the measurement instrument employed, namely sexual interaction from the QOSSIA.

“In Gámez-Guadix et al. (2018b), the prevalence rate was calculated based only on one subscale of the measurement instrument employed, namely sexual interaction from the QOSSIA.”

There are very few school-based programs designed specifically to reduce online grooming behaviors.

“there are very few school-based programs designed specifically to reduce such behaviors.”

Cyberbullying and grooming share a high reciprocity between victimization and behavior execution.

“A common characteristic of cyberbullying and grooming is the high reciprocity between victimization and behavior execution.”

In grooming, a high association is frequently observed between sexual solicitation and the behaviors of establishing risk interactions with the requesting adult.

“Reciprocity also takes place in the case of grooming, as a high association is frequently observed between sexual solicitation”