Prevalence and characteristics of online child sexual victimization: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study.

Background: Online child sexual victimization is increasingly facilitated by technology, but evidence of its prevalence and characteristics remains scarce. Reliable population-based data is critical to understand the magnitude and nature of the problem, and inform evidence-based prevention.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of nonconsensual sharing of sexual images of the child by any perpetrator, and of online sexual solicitation by any adult perpetrator; and to determine the characteristics of these experiences.

Disclosure and non-disclosure of childhood sexual abuse in Australia: Results from a national survey.

Background: Little population-based evidence exists about prevalence of lifetime disclosure and non-disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA). Evidence is lacking about disclosure by girls and women compared with boys and men, and gender diverse individuals. It is unclear if disclosure is more common in contemporary society, and if disclosure is influenced by abuse severity and perpetrator type.

The risk and protective factors, response to disclosure, and interventions for sibling sexual abuse: A systematic review.

Background: Sibling sexual abuse (SSA) is the most common form of intra-familial child sexual abuse yet is largely understudied.

Objective: To systematically review the literature on risk and protective factors, disclosure patterns and responses to disclosure, and therapeutic or other responses to cases of sibling sexual abuse.

Methods: In line with PRISMA guidelines, six key databases were searched along with a systematic search of key grey literature sources.

Dimensions of Child Maltreatment in Australians With a History of Out-of-Home Care.

Research suggests that the dimensions of childhood maltreatment (type, age of onset, duration, frequency and perpetrator) play an important role in determining health and wellbeing outcomes, though little information is available on these dimensions for any care experienced cohorts. This study aimed to determine if any variation in maltreatment dimensions were experienced between two subsets of the nationally representative Australian Child Maltreatment Study, both of which reported childhood maltreatment histories: care-experienced ( = 358) and non-care-experienced ( = 4922). Using a series of independent t-tests and chi-square tests, we compared the two groups on seven dimensions (number of maltreatment types, range of maltreatment items, age of onset, duration, frequency, perpetrator number, and perpetrator type) for the five child maltreatment types (physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence).

The prevalence of child sexual abuse perpetrated by leaders or other adults in religious organizations in Australia.

Background: Numerous national public inquiries have highlighted the problem of child sexual abuse in religious organizations. Despite this, evidence of population-wide prevalence is scarce.

Objective: To provide the first nationally representative prevalence estimates of child sexual abuse perpetrated by adults in religious organizations in Australia.

The well-being of young adults: The implications of multi-type child maltreatment and the mediating role of betrayal trauma.

Background: Research indicates that the nature of the relationship between a victim-survivor and perpetrator of child maltreatment can influence well-being experienced during young adulthood. However, further research is required to substantiate the possible mediating role of betrayal trauma following child maltreatment.

Objective: To explore the relationship between child maltreatment and psychological well-being experienced during young adulthood by examining the extent of maltreatment, the importance of the type of perpetrator, and the potential mediating role of betrayal trauma following child maltreatment.

The safeguarding capability of adults in Catholic Church ministries: A global perspective.

Background: In the wake of historical sexual abuse across the Catholic Church globally, the Church continues to develop policies and processes to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, including supporting the skills, knowledge, and confidence of members of the Church.

Objective: We investigated the safeguarding capabilities of a range of people with different roles within Catholic Church ministries in various countries.

Participants And Setting: Our 184 participants included lay people, religious men and women, school staff, safeguarding officers and tertiary students associated with the Catholic Church.

The Prevalence and Patterns of Maltreatment, Childhood Adversity, and Mental Health Disorders in an Australian Out-Of-Home Care Sample.

This study aimed to explore key characteristics of the out-of-home care subgroup of a nationally representative Australian sample. To ensure that mental health services are appropriately targeted, it is critical that we understand the differential impacts of childhood experiences for this cohort. Using the Australian Child Maltreatment Study ( = 8503), we explored patterns of childhood maltreatment and adversity of participants who reported ever being placed in out-of-home care, such as foster care or kinship care.

The Prevalence of Peer Sexual Harassment During Childhood in Australia.

Sexual harassment inflicted by adolescents on their peers is a major public health issue, but its prevalence across childhood is not known. We provide the first nationally representative data on the prevalence of peer sexual harassment across childhood, using cross-sectional data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS). The ACMS surveyed 8,503 people aged 16 and over about their experiences of child maltreatment and associated health outcomes.

Engaging Parents in Child-Focused Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Education Strategies: A Systematic Review.

Parents are their children's first teachers and there are long-standing calls for their involvement in child sexual abuse prevention. In this rapid systematic review, we asked the following questions: what rationales are used to justify parental involvement in child-focused child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention programs? what approaches are used for parental engagement in child-focused CSA prevention programs? and what are the facilitators and barriers to parental involvement in child-focused CSA prevention programs? We searched CINAHL, Cochrane, ERIC, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, and SocINDEX in May 2021. A total of 57 papers met our inclusion criteria, comprised of 50 empirical studies, and 7 program descriptions.

Prevalence of Diverse Genders and Sexualities in Australia and Associations With Five Forms of Child Maltreatment and Multi-type Maltreatment.

This study presents the most comprehensive national prevalence estimates of diverse gender and sexuality identities in Australians, and the associations with five separate types of child maltreatment and their overlap (multi-type maltreatment). Using Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) data ( = 8503), 9.5% of participants identified with a diverse sexuality and .

Scoping Review of the Definitions Used to Describe and Understand Harmful Sexual Behaviors in Children and Young People.

There is a growing body of evidence that adolescents, and other children, are responsible for a significant proportion of sexual abuse against children. However, there are substantial differences in how this phenomenon is defined and conceptualized between and within sectors. This scoping review explored the current definitions of harmful sexual behaviors (HSB), and other similar terms, used across a range of stakeholder groups.

Child sexual abuse by different classes and types of perpetrator: Prevalence and trends from an Australian national survey.

Background: Little evidence exists about the prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) inflicted by different relational classes of perpetrators (e.g., parents; institutional adults; adolescents), and by individual types of perpetrators (e.

Psychometric properties of the parenting belief scale in a multi-country sample of parents from high-income countries.

Background: Parents' beliefs about how private/public their parenting role is and their acceptability of the use of corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure have been associated with how parents raise their children and their willingness to seek support. However, there are no reliable and valid instruments measuring these beliefs.

Objective: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Parenting Belief Scale, a self-reported brief measure targeting parents' perception of parenting as a private concern and their attitudes towards the use of corporal punishment.

Corporal punishment of children in Australia: The evidence-based case for legislative reform.

Objective: Across all of Australia's states and territories, it is legal for a parent or carer to hit their child. In this paper, we outline the legal context for corporal punishment in Australia and the argument for its reform.

Methods: We review the laws that allow corporal punishment, the international agreements on children's rights, the evidence on the effects of corporal punishment, and outcomes of legislative reform in countries that have changed their laws to prohibit corporal punishment.

Child maltreatment and health service use: findings of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study.

Objectives: To examine associations between child maltreatment and health service use, both overall, by type and by the number of types of maltreatment reported.

Design, Setting: Cross-sectional, retrospective survey using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2: Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study); computer-assisted mobile telephone interviews using random digit dialling, Australia, 9 April - 11 October 2021.

Participants: Australians aged 16 years or more.

The prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia: findings from a national survey.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence in Australia of each type of child maltreatment; to identify gender- and age group-related differences in prevalence.

Design, Setting: Cross-sectional national survey; mobile telephone interviews using random digit dialling (computer-generated), Australia, 9 April - 11 October 2021. Retrospective self-report data using validated questionnaire (Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire-R2 Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study).

The prevalence and nature of multi-type child maltreatment in Australia.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence in Australia of multi-type child maltreatment, defined as two or more maltreatment types (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence) and to examine its nature, family risk factors, and gender and age cohort differences.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional survey using a validated questionnaire.

Setting And Participants: Mobile phone random digit-dial sample of the Australian population aged 16 years and older.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), a national survey of the prevalence of child maltreatment and its correlates: methodology.

Objectives: To describe the aims, design, methodology, and respondent sample representativeness of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS).

Design, Setting: Cross-sectional, retrospective survey; computer-assisted mobile telephone interviewing using random digit dialling (computer-generated), Australia, 9 April - 11 October 2021.

Participants: People aged 16 years or more.

Adaptation and validation of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 for a national study of child maltreatment in Australia.

Background: To establish national prevalence of child maltreatment, reliable, valid and contextually appropriate measurement is needed. This paper outlines the refinement, adaptation and testing of child maltreatment sections of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ)-R2 for use in the Australian context.

Methods: Three phases were undertaken: 1) Conceptual analysis of the five forms of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect, and experience of domestic violence), item mapping and review, item development, and independent expert review; 2) Cognitive testing with members of the general population, and individuals who have experienced maltreatment; and 3) Pilot testing and quantitative psychometric assessment with a random sample of Australians aged 16-65+ years.

Nurturing children's development through healthy eating and active living: Time for policies to support effective interventions in the context of responsive emotional support and early learning.

Fostering the growth, development, health, and wellbeing of children is a global priority. The early childhood period presents a critical window to influence lifelong trajectories, however urgent multisectoral action is needed to ensure that families are adequately supported to nurture their children's growth and development. With a shared vision to give every child the best start in life, thus helping them reach their full developmental potential, we have formed the International Healthy Eating Active Living Matters (HEALing Matters) Alliance.

Safeguarding in Church: Children and Young People's Perceptions of Safety in Religious and Other Faith-Based Settings.

Organizations that interact with children and young people have a duty of care to ensure the safety of those children and young people from any manner of abuse, particularly from child sexual abuse. Faith-based ("religious") organizations are of particular interest due to the number of victims/survivors speaking out about their experiences of grooming, child sexual abuse, and other forms of harm in religious organizations. Focusing on addressing the risks and improving safeguarding efforts, prevention activities benefit from giving children agency and a voice.