Date of Conferral

11-21-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Rhonda Bohs

Abstract

Children aged 12 and under who exhibit problematic sexual behavior (PSB) often face barriers to care due to clinicians’ limited willingness and effectiveness in treating this population. However, little is known about the factors that influence clinicians’ willingness to provide treatment. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this study examined how differentiation of self (DoS), sexual intervention self-efficacy (SISE), sexual comfort, and sexual education/training affect clinicians’ willingness to treat child PSB. A quantitative, non-experimental survey design with a convenience sample of 63 clinicians with experience working with children used a multiple linear regression analysis that revealed a statistically significant model; however, no single variable emerged as an independent predictor. A second model was analyzed, as assumptions and initial model results indicated that SISE and sexual comfort were likely contributing predictors. Sexual comfort was the sole individual predictor, accounting for 22% of the variance. Demographic data confirmed clinicians’ limited willingness to treat child PSB (most clinicians reported treating children with PSB, but half did not address PSB during treatment), high rates of personal histories of sexual trauma, and PSB were reported. Clinicians with greater exposure to child PSB cases reported higher willingness to treat. These findings highlight the need for targeted fostering of sexual comfort and early-career exposure to support increased willingness to treat child PSB, ultimately increasing treatment engagement with this client population. Such efforts may support social change through expanded access to care and reduced child-on-child sexual abuse, mitigating long-term harm and societal costs.

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