Preventing Sexual Violence Against Adolescent Girls: Psychometric Validation of the EDR-ESIA Screening Instrument for Early Detection of Exploitation Risk

Sexual violence against women frequently originates during adolescence, when structural inequalities and gendered power dynamics heighten vulnerability, making early identification of risk factors essential to prevent trajectories leading to sexual exploitation. This study presents the psychometric validation of the EDR-ESIA, a screening instrument designed to detect vulnerability to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in healthcare, education, and social care settings, with particular relevance for prevention strategies targeting adolescent girls. The sample comprised 199 adolescents aged 11–17 years (M = 15.23; SD = 1.59) residing in Spain (58.8% female, 40.2% male, 1.0% unspecified), assessed by trained professionals using case records and reports. The 88-item instrument underwent expert review and pilot testing prior to validation, and its internal structure was examined using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that all subdimensions and higher-order constructs showed an adequate fit to the theoretical model, supporting the instrument’s validity. Female adolescents scored significantly higher than males on CSE target indicators, reflecting a medium-to-large gender difference in vulnerability levels. Overall, the EDR-ESIA constitutes an evidence-based instrument for the timely recognition of CSE vulnerability, supporting prevention, education, and intervention efforts aimed at reducing sexual violence against women from early developmental stages.