MASTER'S THESIS
Monna Nuotte & Reetta Sivonen
Master's students at the University of Eastern Finland, Monna Nuotte and Reetta Sivonen, wrote their Master's thesis on the factors associated with suicidal ideation and behaviour among Finnish speaking CSAM users, on the basis of the survey data collected by Protect Children within the ReDirection project. The thesis was supervised by Hanna Lahtinen, lecturer at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Philosophical Faculty at the University of Eastern Finland.
Abstract
The internet has become a modern-day environment for child sexual abuse, facilitating the consumption and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This study approached the subject of CSAM from an offender-focused perspective by examining CSAM users on the dark web, and particularly focused on suicidal ideation and behaviour and associated factors among Finnish speaking CSAM users. The aim of this study was to contribute to the protection of children by producing information on the thoughts and behaviours of uncaught CSAM offenders.
Previous studies have shown that suicidal ideation has a high prevalence among CSAM users. Through performing a statistical analysis on a sample of 121 Finnish speaking CSAM users collected on the dark web, we found that four factors from a 32-item survey were associated with suicidal ideation and behaviour. These factors were inability to stop or control one’s CSAM use, difficulties in coping with stress and emotions after viewing CSAM, difficulties in carrying out ordinary daily routine and activities, and desire to withdraw socially. This information can be utilised to better protect children through offender-focused prevention. Additionally, a sample of 12 CSAM-users from Finnish prisons and probation offices and the challenges concerning its data collection is discussed separately.
This study is conducted in association with Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry.
Monna Nuotte & Reetta Sivonen
University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty
School of Educational Sciences and Psychology Institute of Psychology
Factors Associated with Suicidal ideation and Behaviour among Finnish speaking CSAM users Supervisor: University Lecturer Hanna Lahtinen
June 2023