Abstract:
The study objective was to develop harmful sexual behavior (HSB) early intervention strategies it is essential to understand how children come to engage
in HSB. Through the lens of a pathways theory, this paper reports
a scoping review of the literature in answer to the research
question: What are the pathways to HSB onset for children and
young people? Eight bibliographic databases were searched over
the time period January 2000 to May 2022 using the following
terms (and derivatives): harmful sexual behavior AND children and
young people AND pathways. Forty-three papers were included
and 10 pathways to onset identified through synthesis: Child
sexual abuse victimization; Physical and emotional abuse; Living
with domestic and family violence; Disrupted attachments; Sexual
arousal; “Antisociality;” Pornography use; Inadequate sexual
boundaries; Sexual attraction to children; and Hypermasculinity.
The pathways are discussed in terms of opportunities for early
intervention.