Online sexual solicitation in adolescents; socio-demographic risk factors and association with psychiatric disorders, especially posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Technological developments and increased use of the intemet created some risks for adolescents, such as online sexual solicitation (OSS). The aim of this study is to examine the sociodemographic risk factors of OSS and the association between OSS and psychiatric disorders in a psychiatric clinical sample. The study was conducted with 189 adolescents. The psychiatric evaluation was performed with DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.) based psychiatric interviews and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used. OSS was defined by questions that are used in previous studies and that predict exposure to OSS. The participants were divided into two groups and compared. In addition, the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index was answered by the participants who exposed to OSS. The prevalence of OSS was determined as 21.1%. Depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and secondary psychiatric diagnosis are significantly higher in adolescents who exposed to OSS. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development after exposure to OSS was determined as 57.8%. These results indicate that OSS is a severe trauma that occurs at a high rate, and it is associated with psychiatric problems, especially PTSD.