One in 10 Australian men have admitted to child sex crimes, while one in six admitted to having sexual feelings for children and teenagers.
The disturbing findings were reported from a national survey of 1,900 Australian men over the age of 18, conducted by the University of NSW and Jesuit Social Services.
Child abuse included accessing explicit material online, flirting and having sexual conversations with minors.
About half of the 10 percent who said they had committed such crimes also said they had sexual feelings toward children and teenagers.
Of the men who reported such feelings, only just under a third, or 30 percent, wanted help to cope.
One in 10 Australian men admit to child abuse, a disturbing national survey has found (stock image)
Men with minor sexual preferences were more likely to have been sexually abused or scarred in childhood and to consume pornography that involved violence or bestiality.
They also reported higher levels of anxiety, depression and binge drinking.
However, these traits did not necessarily dictate outward appearances, with the same group of men also more likely to be married, earn high incomes and have children of their own.
Lead researcher Professor Michael Salter said the research “gives unprecedented visibility to the numbers of undetected child sex offenders in the Australian community.”
“This study confirms what countless survivors have said – that the men who abused them were well-connected and relatively wealthy, and whose behavior is secretive and easily overlooked,” he said. Nine news.
‘By shining a light on the characteristics of individual perpetrators and the wider social and technological patterns that enable their abuse, we hope this research can be the catalyst for change to ultimately keep children safe.’
Georgia Naldrett, manager of Stop it Now! The Australian agency said it was important to intervene early to stop child sex crimes.
About 5 percent of men admitted to having sexual feelings toward children and underage teens (stock image)
“The prevalence of abuse revealed in this report is deeply concerning,” Ms Naldrett said.
She called for “investment in initiatives that tackle problematic behavior before it starts,” and for “intervention earlier with boys and men who report troubling thoughts and behaviors.”
“Investments in these areas can help protect children from harm,” she said.
The age of consent in Australia can be 16 or 17 depending on the state or territory.
To be consistent with international research, study participants were asked about their feelings toward all minors under the age of 18.