A Qualitative Study of Psychosocial and Medical Care in German Childhood-Haus Facilities After Online Child Sexual Abuse
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22420239 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rita Horvay (0009-0002-6023-4530, Charité – Universitätsmedizin), Rebecca Menhart (0000-0002-4963-1749, Charité – Universitätsmedizin, corresponding author), Astrid Helling-Bakki (0009-0004-9452-4995), Kerstin Stellermann-Strehlow (0009-0006-9326-3310), Sibylle Winter (0000-0001-8549-6284), Sibylle Maria Winter |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 533-554 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-19 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1053-8712 • E-ISSN: 1547-0679 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10538712.2026.2661997 |
| PMID | 42037038 |
| OpenAlex | W7155935032 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
As part of the EU-funded PROMISE Elpis project, this qualitative study examines psychosocial and medical care standards for children and adolescents affected by online child sexual abuse (OCSA) within German Childhood-Haus (CHH) facilities. OCSA, encompassing acts such as grooming, sextortion, and the distribution of explicit materials, poses unique challenges due to its merge with other forms of abuse and the blurred boundaries between digital and physical abuse. The study seeks to identify existing practices, gaps, and areas for improvement in addressing OCSA. The method is based on semi-structured interviews with experts from psychosocial as well as medical care. These interviews were analyzed using structured content analysis. Results show that OCSA is often perceived as a comorbid condition accompanying physical abuse or legal cases, limiting systematic screening and intervention. Additional findings are the need for specialized training, standardized definitions and procedures regarding OCSA, and underscoring the importance of age- and developmentally appropriate, trauma-sensitive care for affected children and adolescents. Medical professionals report difficulty addressing OCSA cases because injuries may be invisible, while psychosocial teams cite insufficient training and the absence of standard protocols. The "metaphorical fog" surrounding OCSA - characterized by confusion about its scope and impact - exacerbates these challenges, complicating both diagnosis and treatment. Closing these gaps could improve the quality and consistency of care, enhancing recovery outcomes for affected children and reducing the long-term impacts of OCSA.
Child abuse · Child sexual abuse · German · Physical abuse · Poison control · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Sexual abuse · Suicide prevention · Child Abuse and Related Trauma · Child Abuse and Trauma · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
The Lifetime Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Assessed in Late Adolescence
Meaningful participation for children in the Dutch child protection system
Victims of Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse
Applying Trauma-Informed Design Principles to Therapeutic Residential Care Facilities to Reduce Retraumatization and Promote Resiliency Among Youth in Care
The experiences of practitioners working with young people exposed to online sexual abuse
Technology assisted child sexual abuse in the UK
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |