"I Despise Myself for Thinking about Them." A Thematic Analysis of the Mental Health Implications and Employed Coping Mechanisms of Self-Reported Non-Offending Minor Attracted Persons. Issue 8 (17th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stevens, Eleanor; Wood, Jane
• Is Part Of: Journal of child sexual abuse. Volume 28:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 968
• Page End: 989
• Publication Date: 2019-11-17
• Subjects: Suppression -- pedophilia -- minor attracted person -- mental ill-health -- coping mechanisms; Child sexual abuse -- Periodicals; Child sexual abuse -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Child molesters -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Sexually abused children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Child Abuse, Sexual -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2019.1657539
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-8712

Abstract

ABSTRACT: 'Non-offending pedophiles' or 'minor attracted persons' are individuals who suppress an attraction to children. Previous analyses of this population's mental illness employed overt self-report methods, limited by social desirability. Additionally, studies assessing the coping mechanisms employed to remain offense-free are underpowered; understanding of these would facilitate the rehabilitation of prior offenders. A thematic analysis of coping mechanisms and mental illness was conducted on 5, 210 posts on the 'Virtuous Pedophiles' forum. Four themes emerged for coping mechanisms: Managing risk and attraction to children, Managing mood, Managing preferences prosocially and Friends, family and relationships, with 13 subthemes. Five themes emerged for mental ill-health, including: Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Self-hatred/Self-harm/Suicide and Other. Self-hatred/Self-harm/Suicide accounted for almost a third of discussed mental ill-health. These results highlight the severity of mental ill-health amongst this population and the coping mechanisms employed to remain offense-free.