Cristina-Cornelia Fronea, Violeta-Ștefania Rotărescu

Situational Risk Factors in Child Sexual Abuse: Integrating Criminological Theory and Empirical Evidence

Introduction

Situational risk factors in child sexual abuse: integrating criminological theory and empirical evidence. Explore situational risk factors in child sexual abuse, integrating criminological theories (rational choice, routine activity) and empirical findings to inform prevention & safeguarding.

Abstract

This conceptual paper examines situational factors in child sexual abuse by integrating key criminological theories and contemporary empirical findings. Drawing on rational choice theory, routine activity theory, situational crime prevention, crime pattern theory, and crime script analysis, the paper synthesizes evidence indicating that abuse is shaped not only by offender motivation but also by environmental conditions, including unsupervised access, guardianship failures, spatial opportunities, and institutional vulnerabilities. Empirical research further indicates that abuse often unfolds as a staged process, in which everyday routines, proximity to children, and the presence or absence of capable guardians and victim resistance influence the likelihood, severity, and completion of offending. These findings suggest that situational risk factors operate as interdependent conditions across time, space, and stages of the offense process. Situational criminological approaches, therefore, provide a robust framework for understanding how abuse opportunities are produced and for informing more effective risk assessment, prevention, and safeguarding strategies.

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