Predictors of Abuse Duration in In-Person Child Sexual Grooming Cases

Sexual grooming strategies are common in cases of child sexual abuse and may hinder the likelihood of abuse disclosures. The current study analyzed the effects of known sexual grooming strategies on the duration of experienced child sexual abuse. Canadian judicial decisions of sexual abuse cases involving in-person sexual grooming (N = 153) were coded for grooming strategies and duration of abuse. Six grooming strategies were assessed: identify a vulnerable victim, build trust, enticements and control, sexual desensitization, physical isolation, and concealment of abuse. The number of grooming strategies used with a child did not influence abuse duration. Only grooming behaviors related to concealing abuse significantly predicted longer durations of abuse. These findings indicate that grooming strategies used to conceal child sexual abuse not only hinder disclosure but may also prolong the duration of abuse by enabling its continuation.