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Turhan, Huseyin Mert (2024) Early maladaptive schemas in child sexual exploitation material users: implications for their intrapersonal and interpersonal problems. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) users are a type of child sex offenders that have a specific interest in using, collecting and/or trading child sexual abuse materials. CSEM users suffer from persistent and maladaptive cognitions that support their CSEM use; and are indicative of their compulsive sexual behaviours (CSB), problems in emotional regulation, as well as influences from adverse parental behaviours (e.g., abuse, neglect). Current conceptualisations of intrapersonal and interpersonal problems of CSEM users solely focus on their CSEM use and often disregard the fundamental cognitive mechanisms behind CSEM use. Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) reflect maladaptive cognitions and beliefs that represent individuals’ perceptions of the world surrounding them; these schemas constitute problematic patterns of cognitions, behaviours and emotions that shape individuals’ intrapersonal and interpersonal problems. However, there is a lack of research in the literature concerning the influence of EMS on the intrapersonal and interpersonal problems experienced by CSEM users. EMS can be utilised to understand the fundamental cognitive mechanisms behind CSEM use and inform about how CSEM users’ fundamental perceptions of themselves and others potentially influence their intrapersonal and interpersonal problems.

The present PhD project therefore aims to overarchingly look into the links among the intrapersonal and interpersonal problems experienced by CSEM users through the lens of EMS by using a mixed-method approach to study design and data analysis. The research included a systematic review (Chapter 2) of EMS profiles of sex offenders (including CSEM users) and non-sexual violent offenders to assess fundamental differences in EMS profiles between these types of offenders. Based on the 8 studies that were included out of the identified 343 studies, the findings informed about the distinct EMS profiles among several subtypes of sex offenders and most importantly highlighted the lack of research concerning EMS profiles of CSEM users which paved the way for the subsequent studies. In Chapter 3

group comparison tests were conducted to investigate the extent of intrapersonal and interpersonal problems, including EMS, of 97 CSEM users and 131 non-offenders. Findings demonstrated that CSEM users experienced more severe problems than non-offenders. In Chapter 4, complex structural equation models (SEM) were formulated to investigate the potential influence of EMS, parental schemas and CSB on CSEM users’ offence-supportive cognitions. The results pointed out several mediation models that explained the association between EMS and offence-supportive cognitions of CSEM users through the lens of their experiences of adverse parental behaviours and CSB. Lastly, a mixed-method design was employed in Chapter 5 to look into the relationship between EMS and individuals’ tendency to use particular emotional regulations in a sample of the general population. The analysis of qualitative data from 33 participants and quantitative data from 27 participants revealed a complex relationship between EMS and emotional regulation strategies, highlighting a common overall problem of biased information processing. These findings provide support for the complex relationships among intrapersonal and interpersonal problems experienced by CSEM users and highlight the importance of EMS in these relationships. Therefore the present research has the potential to contribute to the existing theory and research on the influence of EMS in CSEM use and potentially provide a novel perspective in offender management and therapeutic services to prevent further sexual child abuse.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Nixon, Elena Tully, John
Keywords:	Sex offenders; Compulsive sexual behaviours; Emotional regulation; Cognitive mechanisms; Early maladaptive schemas
Subjects:	W Medicine and related subjects (NLM Classification) > WM Psychiatry
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine
Item ID:	78074
Depositing User:	Turhan, Huseyin
Date Deposited:	26 Jul 2024 14:25
Last Modified:	26 Jul 2024 14:25
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/78074

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