A View from All Sides
A View from All Sides Conference The Children’s Trust is hosting the following…
Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB) Impacting Another Child in the Family
This guidance is designed for parents and caregivers of children whose PSB impact another child in the family. Doesn’t sound like your family’s situation? You can learn about PSB generally here or view our other tailored guidance here.
Sometimes, children engage in PSB with children in their family. This can include biological siblings, foster or step-siblings, cousins, or nieces/nephews. This form of PSB is often called “sibling sexual abuse.” In these cases, all family members are affected. It is important to consider the needs of everyone in the family.
For children, PSB are not always related to sexual stimulation. Often, children who exhibit PSB do so out of curiosity, anxiety, lack of accurate information about their bodies, as part of self-calming or attention-seeking strategies, or imitation. Imitation may stem from exposure to mature adult sexual behaviors.
Additionally, research shows that many of these behaviors can come from trauma. A majority of children with PSB have experienced physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse. Many others have been exposed to domestic or community violence. 1 Other risk factors include inadequate family boundaries around sexuality and nudity, as well as early exposure to pornography. 2
The steps below can help guide you through this discovery and what to do next.
What Should I Do if I Learn that my Child is Engaging in Problematic Sexual Behaviors with Other Children in the Family?
Does your child have a developmental or intellectual disability?
While much of the information and resources about problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) are applicable to all children, children with intellectual or developmental disabilities may have unique reasons for engaging in PSB and require unique approaches to treatment. To read tailored guidance on PSB in children with developmental or intellectual disabilities, click here.
A Note for Foster Parents: Foster parents are mandated reporters. This means that if a foster parent (in their professional capacity) becomes aware that a child’s PSB caused harm that would amount to abuse or neglect to another child, the foster parent must file a 51A report of suspected abuse or neglect with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). You can also reach out to your child’s DCF case worker for further guidance, but this does not replace your obligation to report.
Sources
1 Children who harm other children by engaging in PSB are often victims of abuse themselves. Research shows that between 20% and 48% of children with PSB have experienced sexual abuse and that between 32% and 48% of children exhibiting PSB have experienced physical abuse. Studies have also highlighted that PSB is more common in children exposed to domestic violence. Allen, B. (2017). Children with sexual behavior problems: Clinical characteristics and relationship to child maltreatment. Child Psychiatry and Human Development 48, 189–199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-016-0633-8; Silovsky, J., Niec, L., Bard, D., & Hecht, D. (2007). Treatment for preschool children with interpersonal sexual behavior problems: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 36(3), 378–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410701444330 ; Bonner, B. L., Walker, C. E., & Berliner, L. (1999). Children with sexual behavior problems: Assessment and treatment – final report. Grant No. 90-CA-1469. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect; Silovsky, J. F., & Niec, L. (2002). Characteristics of young children with sexual behavior problems: A pilot study. Child Maltreatment, 7(3), 187–197. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/1077559502007003002 ; Friedrich, W. N., Davies, W., Feher, E., & Wright, J. (2003). Sexual behavior problems in preteen children. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 989, 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb07296.x ; Mesman, G., Harper, S., Edge, N., Brandt, T. and Pemberton, J. (2019, May). Problematic sexual behavior in children. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 33(3), 323-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2018.11.002.
2 https://www.ncsby.org/sites/default/files/Problematic%20Sexual%20Behavior%20-Protective%20Factors%20and%20Vulnerabilities%20(1).pdf3 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 2023-24 Student Discipline Data Report. https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/statereport/ssdr.aspx
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