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Risky Sexual Behavior, Paraphilic Interest, and Sexual Offending: The Study of a Community Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong

Author

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  • Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan

    (Department of Social Policy, Sociology, and Criminology, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

  • Wade C. Myers

    (Division of Forensic Psychiatry, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA)

Abstract

Limited information is available on the prevalence and nature of sexual offending in Hong Kong. This cross-sectional study seeks to explore the role of risky sexual behavior (RSB) and paraphilic interests in self-reported sexual offending behavior (i.e., nonpenetrative-only, penetrative-only, and nonpenetrative-plus-penetrative sexual assault) in a community sample of young adults in Hong Kong. Using a large sample ( N = 1885) of university students, the lifetime prevalence of self-reported sexual offending was 18% ( n = 342; 23% males ( n = 166), 15% females ( n = 176)). Based on the study subsample of 342 participants who self-reported sexual offending (aged 18–35), the findings indicated that males reported significantly higher levels of general, penetrative-only, nonpenetrative-plus-penetrative sexual assault; and paraphilic interest in voyeurism, frotteurism, biastophilia, scatophilia, and hebephilia than females; while females reported a significantly higher level of transvestic fetishism than males. No significant difference was found in RSB between males and females. Logistic regressions found that the participants who possessed a higher level of RSB, particularly penetrative behaviors, and paraphilic interest in voyeurism and zoophilia were less likely to engage in a nonpenetrative-only sexual offense. Conversely, the participants who possessed higher levels of RSB, especially penetrative behaviors, and paraphilic interest in exhibitionism and zoophilia, were more likely to engage in nonpenetrative-plus-penetrative sexual assault. The implications for practice in areas such as public education and offender rehabilitation are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Heng Choon (Oliver) Chan & Wade C. Myers, 2023. "Risky Sexual Behavior, Paraphilic Interest, and Sexual Offending: The Study of a Community Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4279-:d:1082907
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nigusie Fetene & Wubegzier Mekonnen, 2018. "The prevalence of risky sexual behaviors among youth center reproductive health clinics users and non-users in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-15, June.
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