(195) Developing and Evaluating a Psychoeducational Group Intervention for Female Partners of Child Sexual Abuse Material Offenders

Introduction In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the emotional, psychological, and social impact experienced by partners of individuals investigated for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) offences. However, their specific needs for professional support and the barriers they face when seeking healthcare remain poorly understood. Objective To explore the impact on female partners following the disclosure of their significant other’s CSAM offences, and to present both the content of a newly developed psychoeducational group intervention and the protocol for its forthcoming feasibility study. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women whose partners were under investigation for CSAM offences. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Based on the identified needs, a psychoeducational group intervention was developed, and a protocol was designed to evaluate its feasibility. Results The analysis revealed profound negative mental health effects among partners. Key healthcare needs included (1) crisis support in connection with the police raid, (2) medical evaluation including suicide risk assessment and follow-up, and (3) counseling to manage complex emotional responses. Barriers to seeking help from both social networks and healthcare services were also identified. Drawing on these findings, a five-session psychoeducational group intervention was developed. The intervention aims to strengthen partners’ ability to identify, understand, and manage the emotional, social, and practical challenges of their situation; to reduce feelings of isolation and shame through shared experiences; and to increase knowledge about risk factors for committing sexual offences and available treatments. Each session focuses on a specific theme: (1) Crisis reactions and emotional impact, (2) Emotional impact over time, (3) Relationships and social consequences, (4) Practical challenges and information on the treatment of sexuality-related risk factors for committing sexual offences, and (5) Summary and future outlook. Conclusions Female partners of CSAM offenders represent a vulnerable group with significant yet unmet healthcare needs. The newly developed psychoeducational group intervention is an important first step toward structured, evidence-based support within the Swedish healthcare system. The forthcoming feasibility study will enhance understanding of partners’ clinical and social characteristics and assess the intervention’s feasibility in a sexual medicine outpatient care setting. If feasible, it will lay the groundwork for a larger study evaluating its effectiveness. Disclosure No