Unraveling cyber sexual abuse of minors: Psychometrics properties of the Multidimensional Online Grooming Questionnaire and prevalence by sex and age

Manuel Gámez-Guadix; Patricia De Santisteban; Sebastian Wachs; Michelle Wright

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105250

Unraveling cyber sexual abuse of minors: Psychometrics properties of the Multidimensional Online Grooming Questionnaire and prevalence by sex and age

Child Abuse Negl. 2021 Oct:120:105250. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105250. Epub 2021 Aug 13.

Authors

Manuel Gámez-Guadix¹, Patricia De Santisteban², Sebastian Wachs³, Michelle Wright⁴

Affiliations

¹ Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: manuel.gamez@uam.es.
² Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
³ Department of Educational Sciences, University of Potsdam, Germany; National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University, Ireland.
⁴ Child Study Center, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, United States of America.

PMID: 34399230
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105250

Abstract

Background: Online child grooming includes the online behaviors of an adult aimed at achieving some type of sexual interaction with a minor. However, to date, quantitative research that has investigated the strategies online groomers employ to gain their victim's trust is scarce.

Objective: To this end, the main aim of this study was to distinguish and measure different strategies of the online grooming process by developing and examining the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Online Grooming Questionnaire (MOGQ). We also analyzed the prevalence of different strategies of online grooming among a sample of minors and their associations with grooming outcomes (i.e., online sexual solicitations and sexual interactions) and mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety).

Participants and setting: The sample consisted of 1704 participants between 12 and 15 years of age (864 girls; M_age = 13.77, SD = 1.13).

Methods: Examination of the structure of the MOGQ was accomplished using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). For this purpose, the sample was randomly divided into two subsamples.

Results: EFA and CFA showed a structure composed of five factors, including Use of Deception, Gift giving, Study of victim's environment, Sexualization, and Aggression. Second, the analysis of the relationship of online grooming with grooming outcomes (online sexual solicitations and sexual interactions) and mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety) provided evidence for the concurrent validity of the instrument. Finally, the prevalence of grooming strategies within the sample ranged between 7% for aggression to 18% for interest in the victim's environment. Overall grooming strategies were more prevalent for girls than boys and increased with age.

Conclusion: Distinguishing between different strategies of online grooming is recommended in order to advance research and the prevention of this type of child abuse.

Keywords: Grooming; Psychometric properties; Scale development; Sexual abuse; Sexual solicitation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Child
Child Abuse, Sexual* / psychology
Female
Grooming
Humans
Male
Minors*
Prevalence
Psychometrics
Surveys and Questionnaires