Professional Perceptions of Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children.

Abstract

Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) among youth presents a persistent challenge within child welfare and multidisciplinary response systems. Because multidisciplinary responses shape investigation, referral, and service decisions, it is important to understand how professionals-including clinicians, law enforcement, child advocacy center staff, child welfare professionals, and prosecutors-perceive children who act out sexually on other children. This study examines how case and respondent characteristics jointly shape professional perceptions of PSB using vignette-based survey data from 363 multidisciplinary team members across Texas. Respondents assigned to vignettes involving a 14-year-old child displaying PSB were more likely than those assigned to a 10-year-old to agree the child was old enough to accept responsibility, knew the behavior was wrong, and should face criminal consequences. Political ideology, professional role, and geographic area of practice were each independently associated with these judgments. Mental health professionals and liberal-identifying respondents were less likely to endorse criminal consequences, while court/legal professionals and conservative-identifying respondents showed opposing patterns. Suburban practitioners were more likely than rural practitioners to endorse responsibility and knowledge of wrongdoing, while urban practitioners were less likely to endorse criminal consequences. Findings highlight the need for developmentally informed, coordinated approaches to training and intervention across multidisciplinary systems.