What is it.
This study analyzed 180 Canadian judicial decisions from 153 child sexual abuse cases that involved grooming to develop a taxonomy of grooming behaviours. While grooming has been researched in both in-person and online contexts, few studies have compared the two—especially when offenders use both methods (i.e., mixed grooming). This research helps fills that gap by identifying how mixed groomers differ from those who use in-person and online. The study examined offender and victim characteristics, grooming tactics, and the nature of the abuse to better understand how grooming presents across different contexts.
How can it help me?
For CYACs, this study provides valuable insights into the varied and evolving strategies used by groomers. Mixed groomers present unique challenges due to their use of both digital and physical access to victims. These cases tend to involve longer abuse durations and higher severity. Understanding these patterns can help support children through the disclosure process, tailor caregiver support, and potentially strengthen forensic interviewing and multidisciplinary collaboration.