A developmentally informed examination of pedophilic interests in men who offend against children: A structural equation modeling approach involving the p-factor

Empirical research has rarely examined how co-occurring internalized and externalized psychopathological symptoms are associated with pedophilic interests. Using a transdiagnostic framework, this study examines psychological and developmental correlates of pedophilic interests in a sample of 211 men convicted of sexual offenses against a child aged 12 or younger. Two structural equation models were tested: one assessing internalized and externalized psychopathological symptoms as distinct factors, and a second integrating them through a higher-order general-psychopathology factor ( p- factor). The p- factor model accounted for substantially more variance across three indicators of pedophilic interests (deviant sexual fantasies, SSPI scores, DSM-IV diagnosis). Childhood psychological abuse was associated with both psychopathological-symptom factors and, indirectly, through the p- factor, pedophilic interests. In addition, childhood sexual abuse was associated with DSM-IV diagnosis. Findings suggest that pedophilic interests in this judicial sample are embedded within a broader pattern of general psychopathological vulnerability, rather than being linked to internalizing or externalizing domains. These results underscore the relevance of transdiagnostic models for the understanding of deviant sexual interests. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.