Exploring behavioral patterns of child-focused online sexual solicitation: findings from a Canadian sample.

Background: This study investigates online sexual exploitation patterns of minors in Canada, using a dataset of 96 child luring cases from 2001 to 2020 provided by law enforcement.

Objective: The study aims to extend the understanding of online sexual exploitation by identifying and characterizing offender profiles based on their behavior.

Participants And Setting: The study examines 96 cases of online sexual exploitation of minors in Canada, drawing from law enforcement data.

Methods: Latent Class Analysis (LCA) is applied to identify offender profiles. External validity analyses were conducted to assess the generalizability of the LCA model.

Results: Four profiles are identified: contact-driven (Profile 1), fantasy-driven with gradual progression (Profile 2), exhibitionist (Profile 3), and sex-driven (Profile 4). The study reveals that fantasy-driven offenders prioritize relationship-building before progressing to sexual activities. Contact-driven offenders, on the other hand, seek immediate sexual gratification. These findings indicate a significant heterogeneity in online offender behaviors.

Conclusions And Limitations: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of online sexual exploitation patterns targeting minors. It underscores the need for further research to adapt interventions and law enforcement strategies effectively in response to the complexities of online offender behaviors. One limitation of the study is the small sample size, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.