Developmental Trajectories and Outcomes of Online Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.

Abstract

Background: OCSA includes adult grooming or solicitation and peer electronic sexual coercion. Due to its negative consequences, it has become a public mental health concern. While prevalence is well established, the developmental timing of onset, predictors, and outcomes can only be clarified through longitudinal studies.

Objective: This review synthesizes longitudinal evidence on online child sexual abuse (OCSA) in minors, with an emphasis on developmental timing, prospective risk and protective factors, and downstream outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies enrolled participants under 18 years of age at baseline, used a longitudinal design, and examined OCSA. Twelve studies were identified through database searches (2000-2025) and citation chasing, all of which were published from 2013 onwards.

Discussion: The narrative synthesis identified that the risk for OCSA was concentrated in mid-adolescence. Peer electronic coercion rose through early-mid adolescence and plateaued around the age of 16-17. The cumulative onset reached approximately one in three by age 18. The predictors included depressive symptoms, maltreatment, adverse childhood experiences, and risky digital behaviors. Protective parental monitoring buffered escalation, especially in early adolescence. In terms of consequences, adult solicitation predicted poorer quality of life and emotional distress, whereas peer coercion increased depression and delinquency. Bidirectional feedback loops emerged between adolescent sexting and adult solicitation. A school-based trial demonstrated that even brief prevention efforts can reduce the risk of OCSA.

Conclusion: Longitudinal evidence suggests that OCSA follows an age-graded developmental pattern and is associated with potentially modifiable risk and protective factors. Prevention should focus on mid-adolescent hazard windows, minority-sensitive support, family-based monitoring, and digital safety education. The proposed Developmental-Online-Trajectories of Sexual abuse (DOTS) framework integrates these findings to guide future research, practice, and prevention.