Paedophilic behaviour poses significant risks to child safety, yet parental awareness in Malaysia remains

underexplored. Despite legislative measures such as the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, cases of

child sexual abuse continue to rise, highlighting systemic gaps and cultural barriers. This paper proposes a

conceptual framework grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) to examine three critical awareness

factors: education on “stranger danger,” awareness of online platform risks, and perceived effectiveness of child

protection laws. These factors are hypothesized to influence parental perceptions of paedophilic behaviour,

Keywords: Parental Awareness, Paedophilic Behaviour, Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), Child Protection

Paedophilia, clinically defined as a psychiatric disorder involving persistent sexual attraction to prepubescent

children, poses severe risks to child safety and well-being [26, 58]. Globally, child sexual abuse remains a critical

concern, with over 103,000 cases reported in England and Wales between 2021 and 2022 [31]. In Malaysia,

6,540 cases were recorded under the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act between 2018 and November 2023

with 91 percent involving physical sexual harassment [6]. High profiles incidents, such as the GISB holding

scandal [49, 10, 16] and the “Abang Bas” TikTok grooming case [36, 55], highlight systemic enforcement gaps

of child protection laws, and their influence on parental perceptions of paedophilic behaviour. By integrating

cultural, digital, and legal dimensions, the framework provides a foundation for evidence-based interventions

Globally, strategies to address paedophilic behaviour emphasize prevention and rehabilitation. Initiatives such

as Germany’s Dunkelfeld Project and Switzerland’s Zurich Treatment Program apply Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy (CBT) to manage deviant impulses and reduce recidivism [13, 21]. These programs adopt holistic

approaches, combining psychological support with community accountability. However, challenges such as

stigma, fear of exposure, and limited access to specialized services persist, discouraging voluntary participation

such as weak enforcement and cultural taboos surrounding sexual education. Recent scandals including abuses

in care institutions and online grooming incidents, underscore systemic gaps in child protection [49, 10]. Scholars

[72] advocate reforms such as stricter monitoring of childcare facilities, legislative enhancement aligned with

international standards, and the establishment of an independent Children’s Commission [62, 63, 68]. Despite

This study applies Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), which posits that maladaptive cognitions and behaviours

can be modified through structured interventions [57, 53, 43]. In parental contexts, CBT suggests that informed

open discussions about child safety, leaving children vulnerable to grooming. Parents who acknowledge these

risks typically engage in preventive behaviours such as teaching boundaries, monitoring online activities, and

advocating for stronger enforcement of child protection laws [7, 39, 64, 65]. Conversely, those who avoid such

conversations due to discomfort or fear of breaching norms may underestimate threats [34, 22], resulting in

complacency [40, 71]. Understanding these perceptions is critical because these perceptions shape parental

Research consistently shows that parental education on “stranger danger” significantly reduces risks of child

exploitation by promoting vigilance and proactive safety measures. Parents who actively teach children to

recognize and avoid risky interactions are more likely to perceive paedophilic behaviour as a serious threat,

Confidence in child protection laws also influences parental engagement. Parents who perceive these laws as

robust and enforceable demonstrate greater trust in institutional safeguards and complement them with personal

vigilance. Conversely, scepticism about enforcement often leads to passive attitudes, weakening preventive

exist, enforcement inconsistencies and societal reluctance to discuss sexual safety limit their effectiveness [56,

38]. Studies reveal that parents recognize paedophilia as a serious crime but lack practical strategies for

prevention, including body safety education and digital risk awareness [12]. Digital literacy is often superficial,

with reliance on fragmented online resources rather than structured learning [32, 35, 45]. Legal confidence is

also uneven, resulting in many parents trust existing laws but doubt enforcement, reducing proactive engagement

[1, 3, 11, 30, 42]. These gaps underscore the need for an integrated conceptual framework that combines

to measure parental awareness and perceptions of paedophilic behaviour. This design ensures standardized

responses and facilitates statistical analysis of relationships between variables. The questionnaire will include

items aligned with the conceptual framework, covering education on “stranger danger”, awareness of online

Examples of items include statements such as “I teach my child to avoid strangers”, “I monitor my child’s social

media use”, and “I believe Malaysian child protection laws are effective”. These constructs will be

The sampling strategy will employ stratified random sampling, focusing specifically on parents who send their

children to public schools. This criterion ensures accessibility and feasibility for participants recruitment, as

awareness and perceptions [43, 47, 52, 6]. The sample size will be calculated using Cochran’s formula to achieve

For data analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), that is SmartPls, is proposed to test hypothesized

relationships between independent and dependent variables. SEM-PLS is particularly appropriate because it

allows simultaneous testing of multiple relationships and accounts for measurement errors, making it ideal for

validating a conceptual framework [73, 18]. Ethical approval will be obtained from the Institutional Review

Board of the researchers’ institutions. Participants will provide informed consent, and confidentiality will be

Data will be anonymised and securely stored. This methodological approach aligns with the study’s objectives

of examining awareness factors that influence parental perceptions. It addresses cultural sensitivity by ensuring

representation of diverse parental groups and demonstrating analytical rigor through the use of advanced

in protective measures shape parental perceptions, this paper introduces a novel perspective that bridges

psychological theory with preventive family practices. This approach enriches current literature by positioning

parents as active agents in mitigating paedophilic threats, rather than passive recipients of policy measures [1,

From a practical standpoint, the proposed framework offers actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and

environments. Furthermore, the framework supports the development of evidence-based interventions, ensuring

Socially, this study addresses a critical gap in Malaysia’s child protection landscape by promoting parental

engagement as a cornerstone of prevention. In a context where cultural restrictions often hinder open discussions

about sexual safety, the framework encourages dialogue and proactive parenting. By enhancing parental

awareness and confidence, the model contributes to creating safer communities and reducing the incidence of

child sexual exploitation both online and offline. This aligns with national priorities for child welfare and support

The framework established a foundation for future empirical research to validate and refine these constructs.

Strengthening parental awareness through targeted interventions is essential for reducing children’s vulnerability

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