NCJ Number
191706
Journal
Journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 285 Issue: 23 Dated: June 20, 2001 Pages: 3011-3014
Date Published
June 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A telephone survey of 1,501 randomly selected youths ages 10-17 who were regular Internet users sought to assess the risk factors surrounding online sexual solicitations of youth and distress due to solicitation.
Abstract
The study resulted from awareness that health care professionals, educators, and others increasingly received requests to advise parents and policymakers about risks posed to children by Internet use and that little scientific information existed on the experiences of children online. The survey took place between August 1999 and February 2000 and used a national sample. Participants had all used the Internet at least once a month for the past 6 months on a computer at home, school, library, someone else’s home, or elsewhere. The main outcome measures were demographic and behavioral characteristics associated with solicitation risk and distress due to solicitation. Results revealed that 19 percent of youths who used the Internet regularly were the targets of unwanted sexual solicitation in the last year. Females, older teens, troubled youths, frequent Internet users, chat room participants, and those who communicated online with strangers were at greater risk. Twenty-five percent of the solicited youths reported high levels of distress after solicitation incidents. The risk of distress was more common among the younger youths, those who received aggressive solicitations in that the solicitor attempted or made offline contact, and those who were solicited on a computer away from their home. The analysis concluded that many young people who use the Internet encounter unwanted sexual overtures and that health care professionals, educators, and parents should be prepared to educate youth about how to respond to online sexual solicitations, including encouraging youth to disclose and report such encounters and to talk about them. Tables and 14 references (Author abstract modified)