Peer-reviewed article

The Relationship Between Cognitive Processes, Self-Stigma, and Internalizing Psychopathology in Individuals with Sexual Interests in Minors.

Demeester D, Vander Zwalmen Y, De Boeck M, Hoorelbeke K, Koster EHW · 5 Oct 2026

Abstract

Individuals with sexual interests in minors are subject to significant stigma in society, even in the absence of any criminal behavior, which can profoundly affect their psychological well-being. This stigma can contribute to the development of internalizing psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression, and stress), which is also recognized as a dynamic risk factor for child sexual abuse. This cross-sectional questionnaire study (N = 90) aimed to examine the psychological distress experienced by this population. Specifically, we: (1) investigated the occurrence of internalizing complaints among individuals with sexual interests in minors; (2) examined associations between cognitive processes (e.g., rumination, emotional attentional control, and reappraisal), self-stigma, and internalizing psychopathology; and (3) explored the indirect association of rumination, specifically brooding, in linking self-stigma and internalizing psychopathology. The results indicate that individuals with sexual interests in minors experience significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress compared to the general population. Furthermore, several hypothesized associations were confirmed, including associations between self-stigma, poor emotional attentional control, brooding and internalizing psychopathology. Mediation analyses further showed a significant indirect association between self-stigma and internalizing complaints via brooding. Follow-up longitudinal studies are necessary to validate these findings and explore their implications. Ultimately, these insights aim to inform targeted interventions and support strategies for this population, which could help to prevent child sexual abuse.