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Cited by 90Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual OffendingChild Abuse and TraumaSexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Clinical characteristics associated with paedophilia and child sex offending – Differentiating sexual preference from offence status

Gerwinn, Hannah, Weiß, Simone, Tenbergen, Gilian, Amelung, Till, Födisch, Carina, Pohl, Alexander, Massau, Claudia, Kneer, Jonas +12 more·2018·European Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.02.002
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Abstract

Contrary to public perception, child sex offending (CSO) and paedophilia are not the same. Only half of all cases of CSO are motivated by paedophilic preference, and a paedophilic preference does not necessarily lead to CSO. However, studies that investigated clinical factors accompanying and contributing to paedophilia so far mainly relied on paedophiles with a history of CSO. The aim of this study was to distinguish between factors associated with sexual preference (paedophile versus non-paedophile) and offender status (with versus without CSO). Accordingly, a 2 (sexual preference) × 2 (offender status) factorial design was used for a comprehensive clinical assessment of paedophiles with and without a history of CSO ( n = 83, n = 79 respectively), child sex offenders without paedophilia ( n = 32) and healthy controls ( n = 148). Results indicated that psychiatric comorbidities, sexual dysfunctions and adverse childhood experiences were more common among paedophiles and child sex offenders than controls. Offenders and non-offenders differed in age, intelligence, educational level and experience of childhood sexual abuse, whereas paedophiles and non-paedophiles mainly differed in sexual characteristics (e.g., additional paraphilias, onset and current level of sexual activity). Regression analyses were more powerful in segregating offender status than sexual preference (mean classification accuracy: 76% versus 68%). In differentiating between offence- and preference-related factors this study improves clinical understanding of both phenomena and may be used to develop scientifically grounded CSO prevention and treatment programmes. It also highlights that some deviations are not traceable to just one of these two factors, thus raising the issue of the mechanism underlying both phenomena.

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Authors
Gerwinn, H., Weiß, S., Tenbergen, G., Amelung, T., Födisch, C., Pohl, A., Massau, C., Kneer, J., Mohnke, S., Kärgel, C., Wittfoth, M., Jung, S., Drumkova, K., Schiltz, K., Walter, M., Beier, K. M., Walter, H., Ponseti, J., Schiffer, B., & Kruger, T. H. C.
Affiliations
  • Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
  • LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum (DE)
  • Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (DE)
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
  • Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg (DE)
  • Salus-Fachklinikum Uchtspringe Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie (DE)
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen (DE)
ORCID
Venue
European Psychiatry
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2018-06
Volume
51
Pages
74-85
ISSN
  • 0924-9338 (ISSN-L)
  • 1778-3585
DOI
10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.02.002
OpenAlex
W2795385185
Cited by
90
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2
FWCI
11.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • European Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (01KR1205)
  • German Research Foundation (Schi 1034/3-1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
Keywords
pedophilia, sexual preference, paraphilias, psychiatric comorbidity, sexual dysfunction, adverse childhood experiences, child sexual abuse
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Mental Disorders, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Pedophilia, Psychological Techniques, Risk Factors, Sexual Behavior, Comorbidity, Mental Competency, Criminals

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