Child Sexual Behaviors in School Context: Age and Gender Differences

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of the study was to explore the child sexual behaviors that Italian teachers have observed in the school context. A representative sample of 227 children, from 5 to 10 years old, was rated by their teachers through the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory. Frequencies of sexual behaviors among children aged 5 to 6, 7 to 8, and 9 to 10 are presented. Younger children showed a broader range of sexual behaviors that decrease with the growing age, such as males in comparison to females. Moreover, findings showed that child sexual behavior is not only related to age and gender but also to family characteristics. These results suggested that child sexual behaviors reported by teachers through the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory may provide useful information about the development of children’s sexuality. The knowledge of age appropriate sexual behaviors can help teachers discern normal sexual behaviors from problematic sexual behaviors.

KEYWORDS:

• Child sexual behavior
• Child Sexual Behavior Inventory
• domestic violence
• family sexual attitudes
• teachers

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Miragoli

Sarah Miragoli, Psychology Department, CRIdee, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.

Elena Camisasca

Elena Camisasca, e-Campus University, Novedrate (CO), Italy.

Paola Di Blasio

Paola Di Blasio, Psychology Department, CRIdee, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.