PhD Defence Gabriëlle Elizabeth Mercera

Keywords: Sexual exploitation, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, youth 
 

"Challenging childhoods: Childhood adversity and its path to sexual exploitation"
 

This dissertation investigated the societal and hidden issue of sexual exploitation among youth, a topic that remains under-researched despite its severe consequences on youth’s overall health. The first part of the research identified risk and protective factors for sexual exploitation in youth, with a specific focus on young men and on young women with intellectual disabilities. The findings highlight that “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACEs)—such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—are important risk factors for sexual exploitation. It also highlights that protective factors, which could reduce the risk, receive too little attention. The second part of the dissertation demonstrated that ACEs and other family risk factors are highly prevalent in at-risk youth populations. This dissertation emphasizes the importance of addressing ACEs early in at-risk youth and their families to prevent long-lasting negative outcomes, including sexual exploitation. The findings make a unique contribution to the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies on sexual exploitation that effectively meet the needs of vulnerable youth and their families. 

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