Date of Conferral

8-2-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Magy Martin

Abstract

Child sexual offending remains a critical societal issue with complex psychological and behavioral underpinnings. Although prior research has emphasized recidivism and risk assessment, there is limited information regarding neurocognitive functioning and its potential role in terms of differentiating contact versus noncontact offender subtypes. This quantitative cross-sectional study involved examining whether cognitive functioning, measured using the Processing Speed Index (PSI) and Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) via the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale predicted offender subtype among 90 adult males who completed psychosexual evaluations. Additionally, the study involved testing whether age moderated the relationship between cognitive indices and offender subtype classification. Guided by the executive dysfunction theory, binary logistic regression, and moderation analyses, results indicated PSI and PRI scores did not independently predict offender subtype. However, a marginally significant interaction between PRI and age suggested potential age-related variations in cognitive profiles across offender subtypes. These findings underscore the importance of age-sensitive approaches for forensic assessment. Recommendations for future research include expanding sample diversity and incorporating broader neuropsychological measures. This study contributes to positive social change by supporting individualized offender profiling and promoting evidence-based practices in forensic clinical settings.

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