La investigación sobre sexualidad infantillimitaciones y recomendaciones

  1. González Ortega, Eva
Journal:
Summa Psicológica UST

ISSN: 0718-0446

Year of publication: 2020

Volume: 17

Issue: 1

Type: Article

DOI: 10.18774/0719-448X.2020.17.455 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

More publications in: Summa Psicológica UST

Abstract

Children may display behaviors and have feelings of a sexual nature. However, due to the paucity of research, society often fails to acknowledge developmentally-appropriate sexual experiences in childhood, and there is no consensus on which behaviors are normative. This review aims to describe the main conclusions of studies in this field and to analyze the gaps in knowledge, the existing methodological shortcomings, and the resulting recommendations for future research. According to findings, studies should pay more attention to thoughts and feelings related to sexuality, the children’s perspective; normative, healthy sexual expressions; and the relevant sexual socialization factors. Both direct and indirect methods, quantitative and qualitative techniques, should be combined to enhance the richness and validity of findings. The article also presents ethical tips. In conclusion, there is a need to further examine childhood sexuality from a comprehensive, ecological approach that provides an empirical basis for the development of interventions in children´s sexual health.

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