| Although research in the last 20 years has generated significant knowledge on what is normal versus abnormal sexual behavior in children, little has been studied as it directly relates to the child welfare sector. Less is known about the impact harmful or problematic childhood sexual behavior has on the social service professionals who are the treating providers. For this qualitative study, 10 social service professionals, 3 behavioral analysts, and 7 mental health therapists from the Southeastern United States provided interviews, which were audio-taped, transcribed, and then thematically analyzed. Five themes emerged from the data: Professionals' background and experience impacts the recognition of childhood problematic sexual behavior, their background and experience impacts the response to childhood problematic sexual behavior, influences of the child's setting impacts the professionals' treatment response, the professionals' theoretical orientation impacts the treatment response in working with childhood problematic sexual behavior, and unique considerations impact the professionals' response toward childhood problematic sexual behavior. These themes relate to and expand on more specific literature on childhood problematic sexual behavior and the child welfare system. Some limitations affected this study, such as sample size, lack of diversity, researcher bias, and the lack of transferability. Nevertheless, implications for practice expanded on the knowledge surrounding childhood problematic sexual behavior. These findings may prove to be an asset to include in the education social service professionals receive in their chosen discipline as well as an aid in education and on-site trainings for agencies that treat or monitor these types of children. In addition, this information could enhance the manner in which these children are recognized and treated by the social service agencies that house and monitor children throughout the child welfare system. |
