MAPs Wanted for Study on Legal Sexual Outlets

Participants are needed for a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Bonn and University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. The study aims to gain an overview of lawful means of sexual satisfaction among people who are attracted to children, whether specific personality traits influence these decisions, and the impact of changes tightening sexual criminal laws regarding such outlets.

People who are age 18 or older and identify as being attracted to minors are invited to participate by completing a 15-minute survey. The survey is available in both English and German. Interested potential participants can learn more or complete the survey using the following link:

The researchers have provided the following message with additional information about the study and how to participate:


“Legal pathways and alternatives for Minor Attracted Persons (MAPs): Dealing with sexual needs and the influence of personality”

The study focuses on strategies for dealing with emotional and sexual needs in individuals who are sexually attracted to minors. Its aim is to better understand which legal and illegal methods are used to cope with these needs, and how personality traits, the subjective experience of sexual urges, and legal frameworks influence these decisions.

People who experience a sexual interest in minors also have a need for sexual expression. However, this need can only be expressed to a very limited extent within legal and social boundaries. Legal forms of expression are rarely available or have become increasingly restricted due to legislative changes, such as the introduction of § 184l of the German Criminal Code, which criminalizes the possession and distribution of childlike sex dolls. These legal developments have made it more difficult for affected individuals to live out their sexuality in accordance with the law, without harming real children or adolescents (Desbuleux & Fuss, 2023, 2024; German Bundestag, 2020; Frommel, 2021).

Since it is generally not possible to permanently suppress or ignore one’s sexuality, many people with this sexual preference are limited to inner fantasies and masturbation. This often leads to long-term internal conflict. For this reason, it is important to gain more insight into the legal strategies currently used by affected individuals, and to understand how recent legislative changes—particularly in Germany—have impacted their options and daily lives.

Participation in the study is anonymous, voluntary, and takes approximately 15 minutes. No personal data such as names or IP addresses will be collected. Your responses will be transmitted via encrypted connection, treated confidentially, and analyzed exclusively in aggregated statistical form.

To participate in the English version of the study, please click the following link: 
https://syskrim.limesurvey.net/648689?lang=en

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to contact us at:
s82fmath@uni-bonn.de or info@franziska-mathaeus.de


Franziska Mathäus (University of Bonn), Jeanne Desbuleux (University of Duisburg-Essen), Johannes Fuß (University of Duisburg-Essen)


 

Participants Wanted for Study on Anonymization in Healthcare

Participants are needed for a new research project being conducted by Project VERANDA in Germany, a initiative which aims to develop new software for video, audio and text chat anonymization, for use in remote psychotherapy. The survey aims to understand the barriers different people face when accessing care, especially with regard to anonymity, and how these barriers can be overcome.

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older and speaks either English or German is invited to participate by completing a 30-45 minute survey. Interested potential participants may click the following link to participate or learn more:

The researchers have provided the following message with additional information about the study:


We are developing video, audio and text anonymization tools to provide anonymous access to help and support healthcare services.

Therefore, we would like to get your input on the features and requirements for these tools. For this purpose, we have set up an anonymous survey to collect your feedback. With your participation, we hope to develop a free and trustworthy tool.

We are a group of researchers from the Charité University Hospital of Berlin and our project partners.

While the researchers are associated with and the project is born from sexual abuse prevention projects, this project is independent and intended to be used in a wider variety of use cases, not exclusively for prevention services.

If you want to know more or are willing to participate, you can find further information and the survey under the following link:

https://survey.charite.de/Gr_01

The survey will be running until 18.08.2025. We would greatly appreciate your participation! For inquiries, please contact Luke Flanagan: Luke.Flanagan@bih-charite.de


MAPs Wanted for Study on Sexual Satisfaction and Wellbeing

B4U-ACT is supporting a new study from researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. The research project aims to investigate perceptions of sexual satisfaction among individuals who are sexually attracted to children.

People who are 18 or older and identify as being sexually attracted to children are invited to participate by taking a 20 minute survey. Interested potential participants can learn more or complete the survey using the following link:

The researchers have also provided the following message with additional information about the study:


Call for Participants: Anonymous Survey on Sexual Satisfaction and Wellbeing

This survey aims to explore how individuals with a sexual attraction to children perceive and experience sexual satisfaction and fulfilment. One of the main goals is to understand how (if at all) sexual satisfaction is achieved and whether it contributes positively to overall wellbeing. The survey also explores at how sexual satisfaction and frustration relate to coping strategies, mental health, self-esteem, and other areas of psychological wellbeing. 

The survey is completely anonymous. No IP addresses are collected, it is accessible via a Tor browser, and demographic questions are optional. You can find the survey link below, with the first page containing further information about participation. If you have any questions, please contact Ellie Woodward at ellie.woodward@ntu.ac.uk (NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, UK).

Survey Link: https://www.soscisurvey.de/sexualsatisfactionsurvey/

Please feel free to share this advert elsewhere to help increase the reach of the research.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Ellie


 

B4QR Volume 5, Issue 2 Out Now

The Spring 2025 issue of the B4U-ACT Quarterly Review has just been released and is available here.


This issue continues the fifth volume of B4QR, and includes short critical summaries of five studies published between August 2024 and March 2025. The featured scholar in the “Meet The New Generation” section of this issue is Line Christophersen, a PhD candidate at Griffith University in Australia. The full text is available to read for free on our site.

Click here to display content from www.b4uact.org.


Participants Wanted for Study on Support Program

Participants are needed for a new study conducted by researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, and Technische Universität Berlin. The study pertains to “Troubled Desire”, an online self-help service for people who are sexually attracted to children operated by the Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine (IfSS) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

The study aims to test whether interventions as a part of the Troubled Desire programming have a positive effect on reducing participants’ likelihood to view illegal sexual images of minors and improving participants’ mental well-being. People who wish to seek help because have a tendency to use sexual images involving children may be eligible to participate.

Participation involves using the resources provided by Troubled Desire (including self-help pages and/or chat intervention) over a period of at least 12 weeks. Interested potential participants may click the following link to participate or learn more:

The following message was provided by the researchers:


Would you like to stop using illegal sexual content involving minors and you are looking for support? On the Troubled Desire platform, we offer an anonymous and free self-help and chat study. You will receive professional support in a safe space – without fear of stigmatization. 

We – the team from the Institute of Sexology and Sexual Medicine at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Faculty of Medicine at the International University of Catalonia – are experienced professionals with years of expertise in providing therapeutic support to people with who are attracted to minors and people who use illegal sexual content involving minors.

Our first study (October 2023 – November 2024) showed that the intervention was able to help the participants. A big thank you to everyone who showed an interest back then! 

For the new study, we have optimized some of the content and opened the inclusion criteria to allow a wider group of people to take part. What remains the same is that the help offer is completely anonymousfree of charge and subject to medical confidentiality in a protected, text-based chat.

Interested? For more information and to take part, click here: Chat study | TROUBLED-DESIRE Global Prevention Dunkelfeld


Disclaimer: B4U-ACT is not affiliated with Troubled Desire. Professional support provided through their service is not vetted by B4U-ACT, and may not be reflective of our Principles and Perspectives of Practice or Guidelines for Psychotherapy. For more information about our guidelines for the studies we post about on our site, please see our Research Ethos.


New Report on Injustices Facing MAPs and Professionals

Today, B4U-ACT published a new report on injustices experienced by minor-attracted people and professionals within the mental health system and academia. This report was written and compiled by the MAP Mental Health and Human Rights Study Group, a working group consisting of ten therapists, researchers, and minor-attracted people. The group was formed in November of 2023 as a result of a discussion at a monthly meeting of B4U-ACT’s Dialog on Therapy.

Over the next several months the group solicited stories from MAPs, clinicians who work with them, and scholars who study their lives about injustices and unfair treatment they have faced. After collecting these stories, the group developed this document to educate professionals and the public about these injustices and the widespread impacts they have.

Our hope is that this document provides insight into the unique challenges and stigma facing people attracted to children and adolescents and the professionals who work with this population, and becomes a foundation for future work to address the systemic and structural restrictions which produce these issues.

B4U-ACT also wishes to express our deep gratitude to the minor-attracted people, mental health professionals, and researchers who shared their experiences of injustices, discrimination, harassment and other mistreatment over the course of the project. This report would not have been possible without you.

MAPs Wanted for Study on Emotional Response

Participants are needed for a new research project being conducted by the William A. Percy Foundation. The study aims to understand emotional reactions in individuals with different sexual orientations in terms of both age and gender preference.

People who are citizens or residents of the United States, identify as being attracted to minors, and have not committed a contact or enticement sexual offense are eligible to participate by completing an approximately 15-20 minute survey. Interested potential participants may click the following link to participate or learn more:

The researchers have provided the following message with additional information about the study:


The William A. Percy Foundation for Social and Historical Studies seeks your help in a study we are doing of emotional response in men who feel a strong sexual attraction to young people below the age of 18. For this particular part of our study, we are seeking men who experience this attraction, but have never actually committed a contact or enticement offense as defined by the laws of their state. To qualify for participation, you must be either a U.S. citizen or resident over the age of 18. The survey instrument we use involves multiple choice answers and should take you about 15-20 minutes. You are guaranteed complete anonymity, but to maintain your anonymity, we are unable to offer any compensation. The Percy Foundation has a long record of supporting sexual and gender minorities, including those attracted to minors, with its research, public education, and prison outreach. We have made regular financial contributions to support B4U-ACT’s discussion forum. Please visit our website to learn more about us:

https://wapercyfoundation.org

Here is the link to our anonymous survey: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wapercyfoundation_qmee_survey

We thank you in advance for your assistance in helping us foster better public understanding of this population. This survey will remain open until May 15.


B4U-ACT Seeking Volunteer Executive Director

As we continue to pursue our mission of improving public and professional understanding of people attracted to children and adolescents, and promoting compassionate and effective mental health resources for this population, B4U-ACT is seeking an Executive Director to help drive sustainable growth and provide leadership and expertise in nonprofit operations.

Through strategic leadership, financial stewardship, advocacy, public relations, and operations management, this position will be responsible for creating and executing long-term strategic plans to pursue B4U-ACT’s mission through continued partnership with mental health professionals, researchers, and minor-attracted people.


Position Overview:

B4U-ACT is seeking an experienced and passionate Executive Director to lead our organization, support our mission, and drive sustainable growth. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and community engagement. This individual will be responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, building partnerships, supporting succession planning, and expanding our presence in public health and mental health spaces. The position is volunteer based initially, with the potential for compensation as funding permits.

Qualifications

  • Proven leadership experience in a nonprofit setting, with a background in mental health, advocacy, or a related field.
  • Skilled in handling sensitive topics with empathy, integrity, and confidentiality.
  • Demonstrated ability to secure funding, including grants and partnerships, to support nonprofit initiatives.
  • Visionary mindset with the flexibility and adaptability to navigate challenges in a growing organization.
  • Guide the organization in achieving its short-term goals and preparing for long-term succession planning.
  • Strong public relations skills and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated skills in building and managing a collaborative team of volunteers.

This role is an opportunity for a compassionate leader to make a meaningful impact in a complex and sensitive area. If you are a strategic thinker with the dedication to promote B4U-ACT’s mission, we encourage you to apply.

Inquire or Apply

Interested applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience and commitment to B4U-ACT’s mission. Please feel free to ask any questions about the position or the operations you would be managing. Applications and questions can be sent to careers@b4uact.org.



MAPs Wanted for Study on Support Needs

Participants are needed for a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. The research project aims to identify and understand unmet mental health needs among minor-attracted people, and support the creation of resources to meet these needs.

People who are age 18 or older, identify as being attracted to children or adolescents, and have not committed any sexual crimes against minors, are invited to participate by taking part in an interview through an online voice/video call.

The researchers have provided the following message with additional information about the study and how to participate:


Hello,

My name is Laura Sibret, I’m a PhD student at the University of Portsmouth in the School of
Criminology and Criminal Justice, and I’m conducting research to better understand the mental
health support needs and resource gaps for Minor Attracted People (MAPs). This information will
help inform the creation of a resource for mental health and well-being. This study has been
approved by the FHSS Research Ethics Committee at the university.

You MUST be 18 years old or above to participate AND have never acted on your attraction.

Here’s what’s involved:

  • If you decide to participate, you’ll take part in a one-on-one online interview on Zoom (camera can be off).
  • This is a chance for you to share your thoughts and experiences in a confidential environment.
  • Your participation is completely voluntary.

How to get involved:

If you’d like to take part, please contact me at up2192944@myport.ac.uk. Please use an email
address that is not traceable to your personal life. Please use a name to sign off that you are happy
for me to address you by that is not your real name. Once I receive your email, I’ll send you more
details about the study and how to proceed.

I truly appreciate your consideration. Please do not share this information outside of the
forum/platform as this is to protect your safety and mine. Thank you for reading, and I look forward
to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Laura


 

B4QR Volume 5, Issue 1 Out Now

The Winter 2025 issue of the B4U-ACT Quarterly Review has just been released and is available here.


This issue begins the fifth volume of B4QR, and includes short critical summaries of six studies published between July and November 2024. The featured scholar in the “Meet The New Generation” section of this issue is Rachel Murphy, a PhD candidate at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom. The full text is available to read for free on our site.

Click here to display content from www.b4uact.org.