Recidivism, Desistance and Life Course Trajectories of Young Sexual Abusers. An In-depth Follow-up Study, 10 Years On

Project Leader: Professor Helen Masson (University of Huddersfield University, Co-investigator)

Dates: 2009 - 2011

Collaborators: Professor Simon Hackett (Principal Investigator) and Ms Josie Phillips (Durham University) and Dr Myles Balfe (University of Huddersfield)

In the context of well-documented public anxiety about sexual abuse and sexual offending in society, the aim of this pioneering Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project was to describe and analyse the experiences and current life circumstances of adults who, as children, were subject to professional interventions because of their sexually abusive behaviours. Such a follow-up study had never been previously attempted in the UK or elsewhere and it sought to develop new knowledge about whether these children continue to have ongoing sexual and other problems in adulthood and the kinds of circumstances in which they now live. 

Working in partnership with nine specialist welfare services in England and Wales, data from 700 cases of children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours from the 1990s were analysed quantitatively in terms of their characteristics, backgrounds and the nature of their problematic behaviours and 117 representative cases were then selected for possible follow-up. 87 former service users and their families were successfully traced, in each case between 10 and 20 years following initial referral to a specialist service. In-depth largely qualitative data was collected on 69 individuals through face to face interviews, phone interviews and the use of social networking communications. A range of standardised measures was completed with participants focusing on health, wellbeing and coping. Using Farrington’s resilience factors as a measure, 26% of participants reported positive life outcomes, whilst in 43% of cases outcomes had been poor. In a further 31% of cases, outcomes were mixed. Factors associated with poor and positive outcomes were identified at individual, relational, social and environmental levels. Most significant in positively influencing the life course of children at risk was the presence of long-term-professional-support, stable partner relationships in adulthood, educational success and employment. Continuing family instability, poor housing and drug use were factors associated with ongoing criminality, risk and poor life outcomes. The findings support the importance of interventions that seek to enhance social development and relationship stability, and provide evidence that the vast majority of young sexual abusers do not continue to be a risk sexually although many continue to have vulnerabilities and require ongoing support.

The findings of study have been disseminated through a variety of means, in addition to via the usual ESRC reporting requirements, 7 journal articles have been published (all available online and via the university repository) and link members of the project team have presented their findings to professionals, managers and policy makers at various conferences and workshops (for example National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers and British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect). The study is significant in developing new tracing methodology with a ‘hard to reach’ population, it has provided valuable feedback to those involved in this field of work about ‘what works’ and, has given a voice to those young adults and other family members who were interviewed.