Solicitation and sexualized interactions of minors with adultsprevalence, overlap with other forms of cybervictimization, and relationship with quality of life

  1. Jessica Ortega-Barón 1
  2. Juan M. Machimbarrena 2
  3. Vanessa Caba-Machado 3
  4. Adoración Díaz-López 4
  5. Blanca TejeroClaver 4
  6. Joaquín González-Cabrera 4
  1. 1 Universitat de València
    info

    Universitat de València

    Valencia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/043nxc105

  2. 2 University of the Basque Countr
  3. 3 Universidad Internacional de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad Internacional de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/029gnnp81

  4. 4 Universidad Internacional de La Rioj
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Journal:
Psychosocial Intervention

ISSN: 1132-0559

Year of publication: 2023

Volume: 32

Issue: 3

Pages: 155-163

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5093/PI2023A15 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Psychosocial Intervention

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Sexual solicitation and sexualized interaction with minors by adults constitute one of the most pernicious risks of the Internet. Little is known about the age range in which this phenomenon is most prevalent or the relationship and overlap of this problem with other risks, such as peer-to-peer cybervictimization and cyber dating abuse. Additionally, little empirical evidence exists on whether the overlap between these types of online victimization affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to: 1) analyze the prevalence of sexual solicitation and interaction according to sex and stage of adolescence; 2) relate this problem to other forms of online victimization (cybervictimization and cyber dating abuse); 3) analyze the overlap between these forms of online victimization and differences in HRQoL scores. A cross-sectional and analytical study with 3,578 adolescents (52.7% girls) aged between 10-15 years was carried out. Of the adolescents in the study sample, 12.6% (n = 448) had received sexual requests and 6.4% (n = 230) had interacted sexually with adults. Sexual solicitation was most common among girls in middle adolescence. Of the participants, 33.9% (n = 1,216) had been involved in some form of online victimization. Peer cybervictimization and cyber dating abuse were positively and significantly correlated with sexualized solicitation/interactions with adults. Victims with the overlapping of all three types of online victimization (2.7%, n = 98) presented the lowest HQRoL scores (p < .001).

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Data source: Dialnet