Studies investigating minor attraction and sexual offences proclivity have placed greater focus on offenders, as well as solely sexual factors. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of nonsexual factors, alongside sexual factors, on the behavioural proclivity to sexually offend against a child. This was assessed in a sample of 123 non offending minor attracted people. Measured factors included the level of sexual interest in children, self-control, self-critical rumination, internalised stigma, cognitive distortions, and what functions their sexual fantasies have. Pearson’s R correlations revealed significant relationships between cognitive distortions surrounding sex with children and the propensity to engage in child sexual abuse scenarios. Multiple hierarchical regressions also revealed how self-critical rumination and the cognitive distortion that sex with children is harmless were significant predictors of a high proclivity to engage in child sexual abuse. Recommendations for future research included a focus on the impact of self-critical rumination on the proclivity to sexually offend against a child in both offending and non-offending minor attracted people.
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