Research bites
School: School of Social Sciences
Mortality rates after release from prison: Why do so many die, and what can be done?
People leaving prison in England and Wales die at far higher rates than the general population: women are eight times and men five times more likely to die within a year of release, with drug poisoning and suicide the leading risks. This NTU-led study pinpoints when and for whom that risk peaks, showing where support is needed most.
Slade, K., Justice, L., Baguley, T., Bowen, E., Shorter, G. W., Adamson, L., Beck, A., & Borschmann, R. (2025). Mortality after prison release in England and Wales, 2019–2021: A comparative analysis of cause-specific death rates and risk profiles. Social Science & Medicine, 369, 117821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117821
The role of faith in domestic violence in Muslim communities: Barrier, bridge, or both?
Faith can both perpetuate and help prevent domestic violence in UK Muslim communities, depending on how it is understood and applied. The study calls for faith- and culturally sensitive support and better training for practitioners.
Chowdhury, R. (2023). The role of religion in domestic violence and abuse in UK Muslim communities. Oxford Journal of Law and Religion, 12(2), 178–198. https://doi.org/10.1093/ojlr/rwad008
Managing sexual compulsivity in men convicted of sexual offences: The role of medication
Two types of medication were each found to reduce sexual compulsivity by around 30% in men convicted of sexual offences, with SSRIs a promising first option due to their fewer side-effects. The study points to a wider role for SSRIs, which are not currently licensed for this purpose in the UK.
Winder, B., Norman, C., Hamilton, J., Cass, S., Lambert, A., Tovey, L., Hocken, K., Marshall, E., Lievesley, R., Hamilton, L., Antoniadis, Z., & Kaul, A. (2024). Evaluation of selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors and anti-androgens to manage sexual compulsivity in individuals serving a custodial sentence for a sexual offence. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 35(3), 425–460. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2024.2338917
What does “desistance” really mean? Rethinking the path to meaningful change
A collaborative NTU study, using the CoNavigator participatory tool with practitioners and people with lived experience of sexual convictions, found real confusion about what “desistance” from crime actually means, with concerns it puts too much responsibility on individuals alone. The researchers call for broader societal education, reduced stigma, and more person-centred support.
Winder, B., Carvalheiro, M., Underwood, M., Antoniadis, Z., Taylor, G., Perkins, R., Young, P., Wood, C., & Earle, D. (2025). “Don’t think about a pink elephant”: Collaboratively exploring the notion of desistance using the CoNavigator participatory tool. Journal of Criminal Psychology, 15(4), 432–446. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-11-2024-0104
Challenges and progress in the medical management of problematic sexual arousal
Medication to manage problematic sexual arousal shows clear benefits but currently reaches only a fraction of those who could gain from it. Drawing on 16 years of a specialist service in prisons across England and Wales, this study makes the case for careful, voluntary, and patient-centred expansion – including continuity of care after release.
Winder, B., Grubin, D., Underwood, M., Antoniadis, Z., Carvalheiro, M., Marshall, E., Norman, C., Bourne, R., & Kaul, A. (2026). Medical management of problematic sexual arousal for people with a sexual conviction in England and Wales: Challenges, learning, and progress. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 36(2), 79–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.70030
Do child-like sex dolls increase or decrease the risk of harm?
This first empirical study of child-like sex doll ownership found no clear evidence that owners pose a greater risk of offending than people attracted to children who don't own dolls – if anything, the psychological picture was mixed. The authors argue for balanced, evidence-based policy rather than assumption.
Harper, C. A., & Lievesley, R. (2022). Exploring the ownership of child-like sex dolls. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(10), 4141–4156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-022-02422-4
What should be the main goals when treating people who are sexually attracted to children?
People who are sexually attracted to children want help with their mental health and with living under stigma, not attempts to change their attractions – which they rank last. The study argues that meeting those needs, rather than promising a “cure”, is what keeps people engaged in support and helps prevent harm to children.
Lievesley, R., Harper, C. A., Swaby, H., & Woodward, E. (2023). Identifying and working with appropriate treatment targets with people who are sexually attracted to children. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 49(5), 497–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2022.2149437
Ideology and identity: Mapping the beliefs of people who are sexually attracted to children
The beliefs of people who are sexually attracted to children are far more varied than the usual pro- and anti-contact binary suggests. A new measure, the Child-Attraction Ideologies Scale, maps this fuller picture of belief and self-acceptance, offering therapists a structured basis for more individualised treatment.
Lievesley, R., Harper, C. A., Awan, A., & Bishop, A. (2025). Beyond pro- and anti-contact: Understanding the ideologies of people attracted to children. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 51(6), 588–611. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2025.2522664