Pathways to Offending: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Narratives from Youth Convicted of a Sex Offense

This study utilized a Qualitative Meta-Synthesis (QMS) to examine qualitative research that captures lived experiences and self-reported explanations of youth who have engaged in sexual offending. Across the synthesized body of literature, youth described their behaviors as shaped by overlapping familial, individual, environmental, and social factors. Key themes included limited sexual knowledge and distorted understanding of consent, exposure to harmful or confusing sexual environments, unmet emotional needs, and complex interpersonal dynamics with families and peer networks. Youth also highlighted moments of impulsivity, feelings of isolation, and challenges with substance use. Together, these findings illustrate how sexual offending emerges from a multitude of experiences rather than a single risk factor, underscoring the importance of developmentally informed prevention and intervention efforts.