A study by the University of Barcelona (UB) found that 10.2% of adult men in Spain reported having engaged at least once in a form of sexual violence against a minor. The research is based on responses from 6,010 people and was presented by the university’s Research Group on Child and Adolescent Victimisation (GReVIA).
The reported prevalence was 2.8% for conduct involving children and adolescents under 15, and 1.7% for children under 12. In addition, 3.4% of respondents said they had engaged in such conduct during the previous 12 months. Overall, 72.8% reported no sexual violence against children or adolescents.
Separately, 22.2% of respondents said they had experienced some degree of sexual attraction to people under 16 since reaching adulthood. Among all respondents, 12.3% said they almost never felt this attraction, while 1.9% reported experiencing it most of the time or almost always. Exclusive attraction to minors, without attraction to adults, was reported by 0.3% of the sample.
The researchers describe attraction and acts of sexual violence as related but distinct realities. People who reported attraction to those under 16 were significantly more likely to report sexual violence, the study found, but the researchers stressed that the relationship is not deterministic. They say distinguishing between the two can help identify opportunities for early intervention before a child or adolescent is victimised.
The survey covered self-reported conduct with and without physical contact, both online and offline. For cases involving 16- and 17-year-olds, it included only situations where the respondent was at least ten years older, excluding consensual relationships between people of similar ages.
The UB researchers cautioned that the figures may be conservative because respondents could be reluctant to disclose highly stigmatised behaviour, potentially leading to underreporting.
Sources: elDiario.es.