Parents\' Observations and Reports on the Sexual Behaviour of 7 to 13 Years Old Children

Å A Kastbom, I Larsson

Abstract

Aim: To investigate sexual behaviours, types and frequencies, among Swedish children in the age group of 7-13 years, as observed and reported by their parents and to give professionals in different areas a greater knowledge of sexual behaviour among younger school children. Methods: The parents of 418 children answered questionnaires about their child’s behaviour, both general and sexual, and about their own attitudes. Results: We found that most sexual behaviours we asked about were reported by the parents as common, and are in part related to, or vary with, age and gender. A small number of sexual behaviours often referred to as problematic behaviour were found to be very unusual in this normative group of Swedish children. Conclusion: Behaviours usually referred to as sexualized and problematic were rare in this normative sample of children at 7-13 years of age. The results are of importance for clinicians’ evaluation of sexual behaviours reported by parents.