Other Titles
Rising Star Poster/Presentation
Abstract
Current literature suggests that parents’ lack of knowledge and awareness of OSEC may negatively impact their willingness to initiate conversations about the topic with their children, acknowledge warning signs of OSEC, and seek relevant educational sources regarding OSEC. The purpose of this study is to explore parents’ knowledge of OSEC, whether they are currently having conversations about OSEC with their children, and their interest in educational resources about OSEC through convenience sampling with a simple questionnaire. This study finds evidence supporting the idea that, regardless of parents’ knowledge of OSEC, they are having conversations with their children about the topic. Overall, this supports the need for greater availability and accessibility of quality OSEC education to parents and guardians.
Notes
References:
Apaydin Cirik, V., Efe, E., & Velipasaoğlu, S. (2019). Educating children through their parents to prevent child sexual abuse in Turkey. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 56(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12461
de Santisteban, P., & Gámez-Guadix, M. (2017). Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Minors for Online Sexual Solicitations and Interactions With Adults. The Journal of Sex Research, 55(7), 939–950. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2017.1386763
Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Colburn, D., & Walsh, W. (2023). Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Findings from a National Survey. https://www.unh.edu/ccrc/sites/default/files/media/2023-11/ocsea-slide-bulletin-nov-5-2023.pdf
Greijer, S., & Doek, J. (2016a). Terminology guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse adopted by the Interagency Working Group in Luxembourg, 28 January 2016. Ecpat International.
Greijer, S., & Doek, J. (2016b). Terminology guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse adopted by the Interagency Working Group in Luxembourg, 28 January 2016. Ecpat International.
League of Nations. (1924). Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924, adopted Sept. 26, 1924, O.J. Spec. Supp. 21, at 43. (1924). University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. Umn.edu. http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/instree/childrights.html
Over 300 million children a year are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse - Childlight. (2024). Childlight; Childlight. https://www.childlight.org/newsroom/over-300-million-children-a-year-are-victims-of-online-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse
Patterson, A., Ryckman, L., & Guerra, C. (2022). A Systematic Review of the Education and Awareness Interventions to Prevent Online Child Sexual Abuse. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-022-00440-x
Pullins, L. G., & Jones, J. D. (2006). Parental Knowledge of Child Sexual Abuse Symptoms. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 15(4), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1300/j070v15n04_01
Qualtrics. (2023). Convenience sampling method: How and when to use it? // Qualtrics. Qualtrics. https://www.qualtrics.com/experience-management/research/convenience-sampling/
Rudolph, J., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Shanley, D. C., Walsh, K., & Hawkins, R. (2018). Parental Discussion of Child Sexual Abuse: Is It Associated with the Parenting Practices of Involvement, Monitoring, and General Communication? Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 27(2), 195–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1425946
Salloum, A., Johnco, C., Zepeda-Burgos, R. M., Cepeda, S. L., Guttfreund, D., Novoa, J. C., Schneider, S. C., Lastra, A., Hurtado, A., Katz, C. L., & Storch, E. A. (2019). Parents’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences in Child Sexual Abuse Prevention in El Salvador. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 51(3), 343–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-019-00946-w
Shorten, A., & Smith, J. (2017). Mixed Methods Research: Expanding the Evidence Base. Evidence Based Nursing, 20(3), 74–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/eb-2017-102699
Turner, H. A., Finkelhor, D., & Colburn, D. (2023). Predictors of Online Child Sexual Abuse in a U.S. National Sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(11-12), 088626052211490. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221149090
Sigma Membership
Lambda Epsilon
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Global Health Issues and Ethics, Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, OSEC, Parental Knowledge, Parental Literacy
Recommended Citation
Gottman, Trey, "Understanding the Influence of Parental Knowledge and Awareness on Conversations about OSEC" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 88.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/posters_2025/88
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Invited Presentation
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-10
Understanding the Influence of Parental Knowledge and Awareness on Conversations about OSEC
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Current literature suggests that parents’ lack of knowledge and awareness of OSEC may negatively impact their willingness to initiate conversations about the topic with their children, acknowledge warning signs of OSEC, and seek relevant educational sources regarding OSEC. The purpose of this study is to explore parents’ knowledge of OSEC, whether they are currently having conversations about OSEC with their children, and their interest in educational resources about OSEC through convenience sampling with a simple questionnaire. This study finds evidence supporting the idea that, regardless of parents’ knowledge of OSEC, they are having conversations with their children about the topic. Overall, this supports the need for greater availability and accessibility of quality OSEC education to parents and guardians.
Description
The study examines parents’ knowledge of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC), their conversations with children about it, and interest in educational resources. While lack of awareness may limit parents’ ability to recognize warning signs or seek information, findings show that parents still discuss OSEC with their children regardless of knowledge level. This highlights the need for more accessible, high-quality OSEC education for parents and guardians.