Research Studies
Last updated 26 October 2021
Below is an extensive list of research studies on minor attraction and related topics.
Please bear in mind that many of these studies have limitations that impact the reliability and generalisability of their findings. Interpret research carefully and critically by considering the study design, the strength of evidence provided by the design, whether the sample in the study is representative, and whether the results are statistically significant. Please view this comprehensive guide to interpreting research literature.
Most of these articles can be accessed on Sci-Hub, a pirating website for academic literature.
2021
A case of developmental pedophilia unmasked by frontotemporal dementia. Prado, C., Lopes, P., Moll, J., DeSalles, A., & de Oliveira-Souza, R. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2021.1886310.
Can nonoffending pedophiles be reached for the primary prevention of child sexual abuse by addressing nonoffending individuals who are attracted to minors in the United States? New strategies with the Global Prevention Project. Tenbergen, G., Martinez-Dettamanti, M., & Christiansen, C. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1097/PRA.0000000000000561.
Characteristics of the users of Troubled Desire, a web-based self-management app for individuals with sexual interest in children: Descriptive analysis of self-assessment data. Schuler, M., Gieseler, H., Schweder, K. W., von Heyden, M., & Beier, K. M. (2021). https://doi.org/10.2196/22277.
How well do indirect measures assess sexual interest in children? A meta-analysis. Pedneault, C. I., Hilgard, J., Pettersen, C., Hermann, C. A., White, K., & Nunes, K. L. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000627
Hypersexuality and impulsivity in self-referred men with sexual interest in minors: Are they related? Do they change during treatment? An exploratory pilot study. Lampalzer, U., Tozdan, S., von Franqué, F., & Briken, P. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100429.
“I would report it even if they have not committed anything”: Social service students’ attitudes toward minor-attracted people. Walker, A., Butters, B. P., & Nichols, E. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063221993480.
Idiopathic and acquired pedophilia as two distinct disorders: an insight from neuroimaging. Scarpazza, C., Finos, L., Genon, S., Masiero, L., Bortolato, E., Cavaliere, C., Pezzaioli, J., Monaro, M., Navarin, N., Battaglia, U., Pietrini, P., Ferracuti, S., Sartori, G., & Camperio Ciani, A. S. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-020-00442-z.
Le concept de pédophilie. Partie 1: Historique et nosologie [The concept of paedophilia. Part 1 : Historical background and nosology]. Leistedt, S., & Thibaut, F. (2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33682389.
Le concept de pédophilie. Partie 2 : Hypothèses étiologiques, aspects médico-légaux et stratégies thérapeutiques [The concept of paedophilia. Part 2: Etiologies, forensic aspects and therapeutic options]. Leistedt, S., & Thibaut, F. (2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33830691.
Paedophilia as a cause of child sexual abuse: A medical and legal problem. Kulik, A., Lubenets, I., Kulakova, N., Zelenyak, P., & Lisnychenko, L. (2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33964848.
Polish adaptation of emotional Stroop test in assessment of pedophilia – A pilot study. Oronowicz-Jaśkowiak, W., & Lew-Starowicz, M. (2021). https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/111772.
Prevalence and correlates of individuals with sexual interest in children: A systematic review. Savoie, V., Quayle, E., & Flynn, E. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105005.
Neurophysiological correlates of pedophilia: a study of EEG evoked oscillations. Bochkarev, V. K., Vasiliev, N. G., Kirenskaya, A. V., & Tkachenko, A. A. (2021). https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202112106152.
The concept of paedophilia. Part 1 : Historical background and nosology. Leistedt, S., Thibaut, F. (2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33682389.
Widespread and interrelated gray matter reductions in child sexual offenders with and without pedophilia: Evidence from a multivariate structural MRI study. Klöckner, M. S., Jordan, K., Kiehl, K. A., Nyalakanti, P. K., Harenski, C. L., & Müller, J. L. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.13292.
2020
Correlates of chronic suicidal ideation among community-based minor-attracted persons. Cohen, L. J., Wilman-Depena, S., Barzilay, S., Hawes, M., Yaseen, Z., & Galynker, I. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063219825868.
Help wanted: Lessons on prevention from young adults with a sexual interest in prepubescent children. Shields, R. T., Murray, S. M., Ruzick, A. E., Buckman, C., Kahn, G., Benelmouffokd, A., & Letourneau, E. J. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104416.
Identifying the coping strategies of nonoffending pedophilic and hebephilic individuals from their online forum posts. Jones, S. J., Ó Ciardha, C., & Elliott, I. A. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063220965953.
Indirect and neuropsychological indicators of pedophilia. Rosburg, T., Pflueger, M. O., Mokros, A., Boillat, C., Deuring, G., Spielmann, T., & Graf, M. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063220931822.
Measuring pedophilic sexual interest. Carvalho, J., Bradford, J., Murphy, L., Briken, P., & Fedoroff, P. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.12.008.
Media coverage of pedophilia: Benefits and risks from healthcare practitioners' point of view. Stelzmann, D., Jahnke, S., & Kuhle, L. (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165739.
Prospects for the use of a binocular eye tracking system for the diagnosis of pedophilic disorder. Kamenskov, M. Y., & Yakovchik, A. Y. (2020). https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202012009172.
Sexual attraction and falling in love in persons with pedohebephilia. Martijn, F. M., Babchishin, K. M., Pullman, L. E., & Seto, M. C. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01579-9.
Sexual preference for prepubescent children is associated with enhanced processing of child faces in juveniles. Speer, L., Schuler, M., Keil, J., Moran, J. K., Pantazidis, P., Amelung, T., Florack, J., Beier, K. M., & Senkowski, D. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01684-4.
Stigmatization of paraphilias and psychological conditions linked to sexual offending. Lehmann, R., Schmidt, A. F., & Jahnke, S. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2020.1754748.
The internalization of social stigma among minor-attracted persons: Implications for treatment. Lievesley, R., Harper, C. A., & Elliott, H. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01569-x.
The neurology of acquired pedophilia. Lopes, P., Prado, C., & de Oliveira-Souza, R. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2020.1727929.
2019
Big five personality factors among men with a sexual interest in children. Jankhe, S., Schmitt, S., Geradt, M., & Hoyer, J. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2019.1609641.
Profiling acquired pedophilic behavior: Retrospective analysis of 66 Italian forensic cases of pedophilia. Camperio Ciani, A. S., Scarpazza, C., Covelli, V., & Battaglia, U. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.101508.
The revised screening scale for pedophilic interests (SSPI-2) may be a measure of pedohebephilia. Stephens, S., Seto, M. C., Cantor, J. M., & Lalumière, M. L. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.07.015.
2018
Can Pedophiles Change? Cantor, J.M. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-018-0165-2.
Clinical characteristics associated with paedophilia and child sex offending – Differentiating sexual preference from offence status. Gerwinn, H., Weiß, S., Tenbergen, G., Amelung, T., Födisch, C., Pohl, A., Massau, C., Kneer, J., Mohnke, S., Kärgel, C., Wittfoth, M., Jung, S., Drumkova, K., Schiltz, K., Walter, M., Beier, K. M., Walter, H., Ponseti, J., Schiffer, B., & Kruger, T. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.02.002.
“I can’t talk about that”: Stigma and fear as barriers to preventive services for minor-attracted persons. Grady, M. D., Levenson, J. S., Mesias, G., Kavanagh, S., & Charles, J. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000154.
Is contact with children related to legitimizing beliefs toward sex with children among men with pedophilia? Geradt, M., Jahnke, S., & Heinz, J. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-1042-1.
More on age of onset of attractions and sexual development in pedohebephilic individuals: Response to Tozdan and Briken (2018). McPhail, I. V. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1302-8.
The sigma of pedophilia: Clinical and forensic implications. Jahnke, S. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000325.
2017
Behaviour and characteristics of perpetrators of online-facilitated child sexual abuse and exploitation: A rapid evidence assessment. DeMarco, J., Sharrock, S., Crowther, T., & Barnard, M. (2017). https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/basw_64920-4.pdf.
Born this way? A qualitative examination of public perceptions of the causes of pedophilia and sexual offending against children. Richards, K. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2017.1335526.
Evidence for superior neurobiological and behavioral inhibitory control abilities in non-offending as compared to offending pedophiles. Kärgel, C., Massau, C., Weiß, S., Walter, M., Borchardt, V., Krueger, T. H., Tenbergen, G., Kneer, J., Wittfoth, M., Pohl, A., Gerwinn, H., Ponseti, J., Amelung, T., Beier, K. M., Mohnke, S., Walter, H., & Schiffer, B. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23443.
Executive functioning in pedophilia and child sexual offending. Massau, C., Tenbergen, G., Kärgel, C., Weiß, S., Gerwinn, H., Pohl, A., Amelung, T., Mohnke, S., Kneer, J., Wittfoth, M., Ristow, I., Schiltz, K., Beier, K. M., Ponseti, J., Walter, M., Kruger, T. H. C., Walter, H., & Schiffer, B. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617717000315.
Gray matter anomalies in pedophiles with and without a history of child sexual offending. Schiffer, B., Amelung, T., Pohl, A., Kaergel, C., Tenbergen, G., Gerwinn, H., Mohnke, S., Massau, C., Matthias, W., Weiß, S., Marr, V., Beier, K. M., Walter, M., Ponseti, J., Krüger, T., Schiltz, K., & Walter, H. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2017.96.
Looking beyond the screen: A critical review of the literature on the online child pornography offender. Henshaw, M., Ogloff, J. R. P., & Clough, J. A. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063215603690.
Minor attraction: A queer criminological issue. Walker, A. & Panfil, V.R. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-016-9342-7.
Orienting basic research on chronophilias. Bailey, J. M. & Hsu, K. J. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0885-1.
The puzzle of male chronophilias. Seto, M. C. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0799-y.
2016
An internet study of men sexually attracted to children: Correlates of sexual offending against children. Bailey, J. M., Bernhard, P. A., & Hsu, K. J. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000213.
An internet study of men sexually attracted to children: Sexual attraction patterns. J. Bailey, M., Hsu, K. J., & Bernhard, P. A. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000212.
Being sexually attracted to minors: Sexual development, coping with forbidden feelings, and relieving sexual arousal in self-identified pedophiles. Houtepen, J. A., Sijtsema, J. J., & Bogaerts, S. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2015.1061077.
Non-offending pedophiles. Cantor, J. M. & McPhail, I. V. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-016-0076-z.
Reducing stigma and punitive attitudes toward pedophiles through narrative humanization. Harper, C., Bartels, R., & Hogue, T. E. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1079063216681561.
Stability of self-reported arousal to sexual fantasies involving children in a clinical sample of pedophiles and hebephiles. Grundmann, D., Krupp, J., Scherner, G., Amelung, T., & Beier, K. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0729-z.
Self-Identifications, sexual development, and wellbeing in minor-attracted people: An exploratory study. Cash, B. M. (2016). https://ipce.info/library_3/pdf/brian_cash_thesis.pdf.
Testing the sexually abused-sexual abuser hypothesis: A prospective longitudinal birth cohort study. Leach, C., Stewart, A., & Smallbone, S., (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.10.024.
2015
A prospective examination of whether childhood sexual abuse predicts subsequent sexual offending. Widom, C. S. & Massey, C. (2015). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.3357.
Diffusion tensor imaging of pedophilia. Cantor, J. M., Lafaille, S., Soh, D. W., & Girard, T. A. (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0629-7.
Help wanted: Lessons on prevention from non-offending young adult pedophiles. Shields, R. T., Benelmouffok, A., & Letourneau, E. J. (2015). https://www.atsa.com/pdfs/Conf2015/TPoster11.pdf.
Regression to the mean mimicking changes in sexual arousal to child stimuli in pedophiles. Mokros, A. (2015). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.3357.
The ethics of pedophilia. Moen, O. M. (2015). https://researchgate.net/publication/279278883_The_ethics_of_pedophilia.
The (in)consistency of changes in brain macrostructure in male paedophiles: A combined T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging study. Gerwinn, H., Pohl, A., Granert, O., van Eimeren, T., Wolff, S., Jansen, O., Deuschl, G., Huchzermeier, C., Stirn, A., Siebner, H. R., & Ponseti, J. (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.07.002.
The neurobiology and psychology of pedophilia: Recent advances and challenges. Tenbergen, G., Wittfoth, M., Frieling, H., Ponseti, J., Walter, M., Walter, H., Beier, K. M., Schiffer, B., & Kruger, T. H. C. (2015). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00344.
2014
Changes in sexual arousal as measured by penile plethysmography in men with pedophilic sexual interest. Müller, K. Curry, S., Ranger, R., Briken, P., Bradford, J., & Fedoroff, J. P. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12488.
On solid ground. Tackling sexual violence against children. National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children. (2014). https://www.nationaalrapporteur.nl/binaries/....
Pedophiles and (or) child molesters. Kesicky, D., Andre, I., & Kesicka, M. (2014). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924933814777314.
Pedophilia and DSM-5: The importance of clearly defining the nature of a pedophilic disorder. Berlin, F. S. (2014). https://jaapl.org/content/42/4/404.
Pedophilia, height, and the magnitude of the association: A research note. McPhail, I. V. & Cantor, J. M. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2014.935644.
Punitive attitudes against pedophiles or persons with sexual interest in children: Does the label matter? Imhoff, R. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0439-3.
Purported changes in pedophilia as statistical artefacts: Comment on Müller et al. (2014). Cantor, J. M. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0343-x.
Stigmatization of people with pedophilia: Two comparative surveys. Jahnke, S., Imhoff, R., & Hover, J. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0312-4.
2013
Evidence for heritability of adult men's sexual interest in youth under age 16 from a population‐based extended twin design. Alanko, K., Salo, B., Mokros, A., & Santtila, P. (2013). https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12067.
Navigating the stigma of pedophilia: The experiences of nine minor-attracted men in Canada. Freimond, C. M. (2013). https://summit.sfu.ca/item/13798.
Response inhibition in pedophilia: an FMRI pilot study. Habermeyer, B., Esposito, F., Händel, N., Lemoine, P., Kuhl, H. C., Klarhöfer, M., Mager, R., Mokros, A., Dittmann, V., Seifritz, E., & Graf, M. (2013). https://doi.org/10.1159/000355295.
2012
Is pedophilia a sexual orientation? Seto, M. C. (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-011-9882-6.
Pedophilia: A diagnosis in search of a disorder. Malón, A. (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9919-5.
2011
2010
Contact sexual offending by men with online sexual offenses. Seto, M. C., Hanson, R. K., & Babchishin, K. M. (2010). https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063210369013.
Pornography and sex crimes in the Czech Republic. Diamond, M., Jozifkova, E., & Weiss, P. (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-010-9696-y.
Potential and Dunkelfeld offenders: Two neglected target groups for prevention of child sexual abuse. Schaefer, G. A., Mundt, I. A., Feelgood, S., Hupp, E., Neutze, J., Ahlers, C. J., Goecker, D., & Beier, K. M. (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2010.03.005.
2009
- Can pedophiles be reached for primary prevention of child sexual abuse? First results of the Berlin Prevention Project Dunkelfeld (PPD). Beier, K. M., Ahlers, C. J., Goecker, D., Neutze, J., Mundt, I. A., Hupp, E., & Schaefer, G. A. (2009). https://doi.org/10.1080/14789940903174188.
2008
- Pedophilia, hebephilia, and the DSM-V. Blanchard, R. (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9399-9.
2007
Cerebral white matter deficiencies in pedophilic men. Cantor, J., Kabani, N., Christensen, B., Zipursky, R., Barbaree, H., Dickey, R., Klassen, P., Mikulis, D., Kuban, M., Blak, T., Richards, B., Hanratty, K., & Blanchard, R. (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.10.013.
** IQ, handedness, and pedophilia in adult male patients stratified by referral source.** Blanchard, R., Kolla, N. J., Cantor, J. M., Klassen, P. E., Dickey, R., Kuban, M. E., & Blak, T. https://doi.org/10.1177/107906320701900307.
Physical height in pedophilic and hebephilic sexual offenders. Cantor, J. M., Kuban, M. E., Blak, T., Klassen, P. E., Dickey, R., & Blanchard, R. (2007). https://doi.org/10.1177/107906320701900405.
2006
- Child pornography offenses are a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia. Seto, M. C., Cantor, J. M., & Blanchard, R. (2006). https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.115.3.610.
2005
- Handedness in pedophilia and hebephilia. Cantor, J. M., Klassen, P. E., Dickey, R., Christensen, B. K., Kuban, M. E., Blak, T., Williams, N. S., & Blanchard, R. (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-005-4344-7.
2004
- Intelligence, memory, and handedness in pedophilia. Cantor, J. M., Blanchard, R., Christensen, B. K., Dickey, R., Klassen, P. E., Beckstead, A. L., Blak, T., & Kuban, M. E. (2004). https://doi.org/10.1037/0894-4105.18.1.3.
2003
- Self-reported head injuries before and after age 13 in pedophilic and nonpedophilic men referred for clinical assessment. Blanchard, R., Kuban, M. E., Klassen, P., Dickey, R., Christensen, B. K., Cantor, J. M., & Blak, T. (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026093612434.
2002
- Retrospective self-reports of childhood accidents causing unconsciousness in phallometrically diagnosed pedophiles. Blanchard, R., Christensen, B. K., Strong, S. M., Cantor, J. M., Kuban, M. E., Klassen, P., Dickey, R., & Blak, T. (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1020659331965.
2001
- A brief screening scale to identify pedophilic interests among child molesters. Seto, M. C. & Lalumière, M. L. (2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/107906320101300103.
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