Dr Gemma McKibbin

Graduated in 2017

Project Description

Child sexual abuse perpetrated by adults in family and institutional contexts is a well-known phenomenon. Child sexual abuse carried out by other children and young people, however, is a comparatively underexplored social problem. Sexually abusive behaviour by children and young people accounts for about half of all child sexual abuse perpetrated. This thesis is about preventing sexually abusive behaviour carried out by children and young people. The aim of the study reported in this thesis was to gather the insights about prevention of young people who had themselves been sexually abusive. That is, working within a critical feminist framework, the researcher asked young people who had abused what could have been different in their lives so that the sexually abusive behaviour did not occur. Interviews were informed by a Critical Interpretive Synthesis, a qualitative systematic review of broad literature regarding sexually abusive behaviour. The insights of the young people were then used to inform suggestions about strengthening the current sexually abusive behaviour prevention agenda.

Supervisors

Professor Cathy Humphreys, Department of Social Work
Associate Professor Bridget Hamilton, Centre for Mental Health Nursing