A Latent Profile Analysis of High-Risk Children’s Problematic Sexual Behavior

Abstract As research and intervention regarding children’s problematic sexual behavior (PSB) have broadly defined PSB, including all forms of developmentally atypical sexual behavior and all potential etiological factors, no work to date has identified subtypes or unique patterns of PSB using person-centered analysis. The aim of the current study was to examine the presence of unique profiles of children’s PSB, interpersonal PSB (IPSB), and etiological factors among high-risk children who exhibited PSB in the prior year. The present study included 689 8-year-old high-risk children (50.1% male, 50.2% Black) who recently exhibited sexual behavior and their caregivers from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) study. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was utilized to examine profiles based on children’s self-focused PSB, interpersonal PSB (IPSB), maltreatment factors, co-occurring symptoms, adaptive functioning, and family functioning. Six profiles were identified: Developmentally typical (48.5%), Non-trauma-related developmental difficulties and PSB (22.2%), Family dysfunction and PSB (9.6%), Non-child sexual abuse (CSA) polyvictimization and IPSB (8.27%), PSB/IPSB and co-occurring symptoms (7.6%), and CSA polyvictimization and PSB (3.9%). Profile membership was associated with all included indicators, including children’s exposure to maltreatment, type and level of symptoms, developmental delays, family functioning, as well as form and degree of PSB. The findings highlight the heterogeneity of children with PSB and may further contribute to identification of children with varying presentations of PSB and informed treatment selection.