Prevalence of Gun Carrying and Gun Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Youth and Young Adults.

Introduction: Guns were one of the leading causes of death in children and youth aged 0-24 years in the U.S. over the last decade, with large variations by sex, race, region, and income.

Exposure to child sexual abuse materials among law enforcement investigative personnel: Exploring trauma and resilience profiles.

Objective: This study aimed to identify distinct profiles of investigators based on their exposure to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and associated mental health symptomatology. Specifically, the study seeks to differentiate resilient profiles from those exhibiting psychopathologies. Additionally, this research explores resilience as a transdiagnostic and distal factor, examining individual- and agency-level coping and resiliency factors.

"They are not victimless crimes…that's frustrating to hear": Qualitative insights from prosecutors working on cases related to technology facilitated child sexual abuse material.

Background: Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) are any videos or images of individuals under the age of 18 engaging in sexually explicit activities or positions. The incidence and scope of CSAM has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the prosecution of such crimes has not risen at the same rate.

Objective: This study presents exploratory qualitative findings regarding prosecutors' challenges prosecuting CSAM cases from the perspectives of experienced CSAM prosecutors.

Predictors of the Onset of Sexual Violence Perpetration in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood.

To identify factors in adolescence that predict the onset of sexual violence in adolescence and young adulthood. Data were analyzed from six survey waves of the longitudinal Growing up with Media Study (2008-2018) conducted in the USA. Participants were 778 youth 13-18 years old at baseline, who completed online surveys assessing sexual violence behaviors and predictors.

Persisting concerns about image exposure among survivors of image-based sexual exploitation and abuse in childhood.

Objective: Among survivors of image-based sexual exploitation and abuse, how many experienced persisting concerns about others encountering their sexual images?

Method: Online self-administered questionnaire was used. A sample of 189 unique incidents of image-based sexual abuse or exploitation in childhood from 154 respondents ages 18-28 were gathered in a follow-up study to a previous national online survey about technology-facilitated abuse.

Results: Twenty-six percent of the episodes generated high levels of persisting concern about possible unwanted exposure from the online availability of images.

COVID-19 and Child Sex Trafficking: Qualitative Insights on the Effect of the Pandemic on Victimization and Service Provision.

Objectives: Child sex trafficking (CST) is the involvement of minors in the commercial exchange of sex for goods, services, drugs, or money. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected many risk factors associated with CST victimization and the availability of CST services. We examined service providers' perspectives on how the pandemic affected trajectories of CST victimization among young people in the United States.

Bystanders to Sexual Violence: Findings From a National Sample of Sexual and Gender Diverse Adolescents.

Mobilizing bystanders to prevent sexual violence is an increasingly popular prevention strategy. While research has identified characteristics related to opportunity and actions around helping, a more nuanced understanding of how helping behavior and its modifiable levers may differ for youth of various genders is needed. The current study examined bystander-helping behaviors in sexual violence situations in a national, social media-recruited sample of adolescents 14 to 16 years of age.

A Self-Assessment Tool for Helping Identify Police Burnout Among Investigators of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

Introduction: Law enforcement professionals who investigate crimes involving child sexual abuse material face increased risk of mental health challenges, including burnout. This study aims to develop a data-driven self-assessment tool for law enforcement personnel exposed to child sexual abuse material. The tool assesses burnout symptoms and related mental health issues, offering a proactive approach to identifying and supporting individuals at risk.

Implementation of a Risk Reduction Protocol in Youth Violence Research.

This article presents data from the Growing up with Media study related to the implementation of a risk reduction protocol that resulted in three groups of youth: low-risk youth (no flags), youth flagged because of violence involvement and not clinically referred; and flagged youth who were referred to a team clinician due to additional risk considerations. Data is from 3,979 U.S.

Trauma behind the keyboard: Exploring disparities in child sexual abuse materials exposure and mental health factors among investigators and forensic examiners - A network analysis.

Background: Despite acknowledging the detrimental impact of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) exposure on the mental and physical well-being of investigators and forensic examiners, there is a need for comprehensive exploration into the complex relationship between CSAM exposure, its various dimensions, mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and burnout, as well as the presence of positive attitudes towards the job.

"An escape from the isolation": Youth thoughts about the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent sexual behavior and alcohol use.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic likely affected adolescent sexual behaviors and alcohol use, although how is not well understood.

Method: Youth were sampled from the national, online longitudinal Growing up with Media study. They responded via text messaging to open-ended questions about how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the sexual behavior and alcohol use of adolescents.

The mental health of officials who regularly examine child sexual abuse material: strategies for harm mitigation.

Background: The current study aims to better understand the mental health and subjective well-being of investigators and forensic examiners exposed to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) by examining which components of this work are associated with elevated mental health conditions and decreased well-being, as well as the intra-personal and organizational variables that may mitigate harm and improve well-being.

Methods: Police investigators, forensic examiners, and others connected with the criminal justice system from across the United States who were exposed to CSAM as part of their professions (N = 500) completed an anonymous online survey. Participants were recruited through connections with the National Criminal Justice Training Center.

Correlates of intimate relationship satisfaction among investigators of child sexual abuse material.

Introduction: This study investigates correlates of intimate relationship satisfaction among investigators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Previous research has shown that exposure to CSAM content can negatively impact investigators' emotional wellbeing, but little is known about its association with their intimate relationships.

Methods: The study included 500 participants who were police investigators, forensic examiners, and other professionals connected with the criminal justice system in the United States that are exposed to CSAM as part of their profession.

Event Characteristics of Sexual Violence Perpetration Against Romantic Partners Versus Non-Romantic Partners.

Tactics used to perpetrate sexual violence may be crucial to understanding when and why sexual violence occurs. Moreover, most sexual violence occurs between people who know each other-including in the context of dating or sexual relationships. Little is known about the context of sexual violence that occurs with non-romantic partners.

Polyvictimization Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth.

Introduction: Polyvictimization is a significant public health issue. Sexual and gender minority youth are important to include in polyvictimization research because they report higher rates of victimization than nonsexual and gender minority youth. This study examines whether polyvictimization attenuates the associations between individual types of victimization and depressed mood and substance use across gender and sexual identities.

Diffusion effects of a sexual violence prevention program leveraging youth-adult partnerships.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the diffusion effects of a youth-led sexual violence prevention program (i.e., Youth Voices in Prevention [Youth VIP]).

Exposure to a Youth-Led Sexual Violence Prevention Program Among Adolescents: The Impact of Engagement.

Objective: Most studies of peer sexual violence (SV) prevention programs for adolescents focus on program outcomes or feasibility and acceptability; few examine how exposure levels or dosage affects impact. The present study examined the effects of attending multiple community-located youth-led prevention events, as compared to attending one or none, on peer violence (PV)-related attitudes and behaviors.

Method: Middle and high school students ( at first wave = 13.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for youth with a history of exposure to self-directed violence.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created a sudden shift in the social lives of youth with important negative impacts on mental health. The current article aims to understand how the pandemic may have differentially impacted the mental health of adolescents and young adults with recent (1 year or less) and past (> 1 year) exposure to self-directed violence (SDV).

Method: Data were collected online from 990 youth and young adults, aged 13-23 years between November 27, 2020 and December 11, 2020.

Practices and Policies Around Wellness: Insights From the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Network.

This article aims to understand what practices and training Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces and affiliated agencies are currently using to help mitigate distress and promote wellbeing among investigators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Data were collected via telephone interviews with Commanders of 54 ICAC Task Forces as well as an online survey of 155 investigators at ICAC-affiliated agencies. Sixty-two percent of respondents said their agency had an Officer Wellness Program.

High School Students' Perceptions of School Personnel's Intentions to Help Prevent Teen Sexual and Dating Violence: Associations with Attitudes and Intended Behaviors.

Adolescents are at high risk for sexual and dating violence (SDV) at school, indicating need for both adolescents and school personnel to engage in bystander behavior to prevent SDV. Adolescents' perceptions of social norms about bystander behavior, including their perceptions about social norms among school personnel, may impact adolescents' own SDV attitudes and intended bystander behavior. Based on social norms theory, the current research examines adolescents who underestimate, accurately perceive, and overestimate school personnel's reactive (responding to a current situation) and proactive (spreading messaging about prevention) bystander behaviors.

Evaluating the Impact of a Youth-Led Sexual Violence Prevention Program: Youth Leadership Retreat Outcomes.

Involving youth in developing and implementing prevention programs to reduce sexual violence (SV) has the potential to improve prevention outcomes. However, there has been little focus on youth-led SV prevention programs, and limited evaluation research to help guide efforts. The current study examined the effectiveness of Youth Voices in Prevention (Youth VIP) leadership retreats on SV victimization and perpetration, forms of violence related to SV (e.

Predictors of Multidisciplinary Team Sustainability in Work With Child Sex Trafficking Cases.

A coordinated response by a trained multidisciplinary team (MDT) can help support child sex trafficking (CST) victims, but little is known about factors that influence the development and sustainability of MDTs in this work. An online survey was conducted with 171 professionals who attended a Multidisciplinary Team Child Sex Trafficking (MDT-CST) training to identify factors related to team growth. Increased MDT success was related to: (1) the presence of a CST-specific advocacy organization in the community; (2) other community agencies active in supporting CST victims (e.