The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Sex Offenders: An Examination of the Role of Stressors as Disinhibitors on Deviant Sexual Thoughts and Fantasies

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dc.contributor.advisorVandiver, Donna M.
dc.contributor.authorLoeber, Blake
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBowman, Scott W.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWithrow, Brian L.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberGollaher, Karen
dc.date.accessioned2023-12-15T19:46:21Z
dc.date.available2023-12-15T19:46:21Z
dc.date.issued2023-12
dc.description.abstractThe Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown that followed led to social isolation, and by extension, widespread negative mental health consequences among the general population. There is little known about these negative mental health effects among registered sex offenders (RSOs). However, prior research has shown that RSOs may be especially vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic due to their propensity for social isolation, stigma, social and economic consequences as a result of their sex offender status. Thus, the goal of this study was to qualitatively assess eight registered sex offenders (RSOs) in central Texas using thematic analysis. Their perceptions of the stressors that occurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic were recorded and analyzed. Moreover, RSOs stressors with regard to the potential to become precursors to sexual recidivism such as experiencing deterioration of their mental health and subsequently relying on poor coping strategies such as increased sexual fantasies or thoughts of alcohol use were also assessed. The results of the study determined that RSOs perceived, no changes to their mental health (stress, social isolation, depression or anxiety) or poor coping strategies (sexual ideations, alcohol craving), and minimal changes to their finances, employment and resources to during the Covid-19 pandemic. RSOs perceived social, societal and relational stigma as far more stressful and isolation-inducing than the Covid-19 pandemic. Future research should further clarify the relationship between stress, isolation, self-esteem, non-sexual recidivism, and triggers to sexual abuse.
dc.description.departmentCriminal Justice and Criminology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent139 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationLoeber, B. (2023). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on registered sex offenders: An examination of the role of stressors as disinhibitors on deviant sexual thoughts and fantasies (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/17703
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectpandemic
dc.subjectsex offenders
dc.subjectnegative psychological effects
dc.subjectsex offender stressors
dc.subjectanxiety and depression
dc.subjectregistered sex offenders
dc.titleThe Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Sex Offenders: An Examination of the Role of Stressors as Disinhibitors on Deviant Sexual Thoughts and Fantasies
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentCriminal Justice and Criminology
thesis.degree.disciplineCriminal Justice
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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