exploring the dimensions of online child sexual abuse: a qualitative meta-synthesis study

Objective: with the expanded use of the internet, online child sexual abuse has been facilitated through the growing number of malicious websites that allow criminals to interact with children. online child sexual abuse involves acquiring, displaying, collecting, and distributing sexual content to obtain sexual satisfaction from a child. online child sexual abuse threatens the public mental health of society through its adverse effects on the mental health of children and families. to this end, the present study aims to review the studies on online sexual abuse to provide a comprehensive picture of this phenomenon. methods: this study was conducted with a qualitative and systematic review method. the research population was 113 articles published in scientific databases in the last decade about online sexual abuse and its dimensions. the research sample consisted of 22 articles, which were selected based on thematic monitoring and theoretical saturation of data via purposive sampling. the data were collected from a qualitative analysis of the studied documents and records.results: data analysis revealed that indicators of online child sexual abuse are divided into 4 dimensions, 9 categories, and 56 subcategories, including knowledge components (low cyber knowledge, unawareness of the boundaries of online activities, low media literacy), psychological components (intrapersonal, interpersonal, personality, and interactive factors), approach-based components (cyberbullying, intimacy, and sexual-emotional abuse), and environmental components (cyberspace features and distribution platforms).conclusion: paying attention to the virtual environment for learners leads to the reduction of the existing injuries in this environment. identifying the indicators and components of online sexual abuse of children allows educational leaders and those involved in virtual space to examine online sexual abuse from various dimensions.