Child sexual and physical abuse, self-regulation, and problematic sexual behavior: A prospective mediational model.

Abstract

Preteen children with problematic sexual behavior (PSB) are a poorly understood group, and etiological examinations typically focus on cross-sectional associations. Using the Longitudinal Studies in Child Abuse and Neglect (n = 1,354) data set, a hypothesized mediational model was tested that examined whether problems with self-regulation at age 6 predicted PSB at age 8 while accounting for the impact of child sexual abuse and/or child physical abuse occurring prior to age 6. Using structural equation modeling, the defined mediational model was largely supported, with both child sexual abuse and physical abuse prior to age 6 predicting problems with self-regulation at age 6, which in turn predicted PSB at age 8. This mediational relationship operated similarly across two different conceptualizations of PSB, one that was general and included a variety of behaviors and one that was restricted only to interpersonally intrusive types of behavior. Early physical abuse continued to predict age 8 PSB after controlling for self-regulation across both models; however, early child sexual abuse continued to predict only intrusive types of behavior. These results are discussed in the context of advancing etiological research and our understanding of PSB among preteen children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).