Psychological Assessment, Vol 38(9), Sep 2026, 613-623; doi:10.1037/pas0001461
Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) among preteen children is increasingly being recognized as a public health problem, in part because of short- and long-term consequences experienced by the children with PSB and by others impacted by their behavior. Unfortunately, the lack of assessment measures grounded in contemporary research hinders progress in the field. The Assessment of Sexual Behavior–Child version is a 38-item caregiver-report instrument that was developed to remedy this problem. It was tested across three samples: a nationally representative sample (n = 1,400), a smaller replication sample (n = 271), and a clinical group displaying PSB (n = 110). Internal consistency (α) estimates on the total scale ranged from .81 to .85. Test–retest reliability (r) for the total scale was estimated at .90. Eighteen “critical items” were identified, comprising rarely endorsed and clearly problematic behaviors. Principal components and confirmatory factor analyses supported a single, primary scale as potential subscale psychometrics were weak. Convergent validity analyses revealed the total score correlated with those of an older measure of PSB (r = .81) as well as other hypothesized correlates (e.g., conduct problems, modeling of sexuality). The clinical group seeking services for PSB scored significantly higher on the Assessment of Sexual Behavior–Child version than the other two samples (F = 317.37, p