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Prevalence and Impacts of Image-Based Sexual Abuse Victimization: A Multinational Study

Rebecca Umbach, Nicola Henry, Gemma Beard

TL;DR

This study addresses the prevalence, dynamics, harms, and help-seeking related to image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) across 10 countries using a large, representative online survey (n = 16,693). It finds a global IBSA victimization rate of 22.6%, with higher risk among LGBTQ+ and younger individuals, and with women reporting greater harms despite similar overall victimization rates by gender. The paper advances understanding by disaggregating IBSA into subtypes, examining victim–perpetrator relationships, and evaluating help-seeking and reporting patterns, revealing substantial under-reporting and mixed efficacy of actions taken. It further discusses implications for human–computer interaction, policy, and digital interventions, advocating trauma-informed, accessible tools and broader, longitudinal measurement to inform prevention and remediation efforts across diverse socio-legal contexts.

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) refers to the nonconsensual creating, taking, or sharing of intimate images, including threats to share intimate images. Despite the significant harms of IBSA, there is limited data on its prevalence and how it affects different identity or demographic groups. This study examines prevalence of, impacts from, and responses to IBSA via a survey with over 16,000 adults in 10 countries. More than 1 in 5 (22.6%) respondents reported an experience of IBSA. Victimization rates were higher among LGBTQ+ and younger respondents. Although victimized at similar rates, women reported greater harms and negative impacts from IBSA than men. Nearly a third (30.9%) of victim-survivors did not report or disclose their experience to anyone. We provide large-scale, granular, baseline data on prevalence in a diverse set of countries to aid in the development of effective interventions that address the experiences and intersectional identities of victim-survivors.

Prevalence and Impacts of Image-Based Sexual Abuse Victimization: A Multinational Study

TL;DR

This study addresses the prevalence, dynamics, harms, and help-seeking related to image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) across 10 countries using a large, representative online survey (n = 16,693). It finds a global IBSA victimization rate of 22.6%, with higher risk among LGBTQ+ and younger individuals, and with women reporting greater harms despite similar overall victimization rates by gender. The paper advances understanding by disaggregating IBSA into subtypes, examining victim–perpetrator relationships, and evaluating help-seeking and reporting patterns, revealing substantial under-reporting and mixed efficacy of actions taken. It further discusses implications for human–computer interaction, policy, and digital interventions, advocating trauma-informed, accessible tools and broader, longitudinal measurement to inform prevention and remediation efforts across diverse socio-legal contexts.

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) refers to the nonconsensual creating, taking, or sharing of intimate images, including threats to share intimate images. Despite the significant harms of IBSA, there is limited data on its prevalence and how it affects different identity or demographic groups. This study examines prevalence of, impacts from, and responses to IBSA via a survey with over 16,000 adults in 10 countries. More than 1 in 5 (22.6%) respondents reported an experience of IBSA. Victimization rates were higher among LGBTQ+ and younger respondents. Although victimized at similar rates, women reported greater harms and negative impacts from IBSA than men. Nearly a third (30.9%) of victim-survivors did not report or disclose their experience to anyone. We provide large-scale, granular, baseline data on prevalence in a diverse set of countries to aid in the development of effective interventions that address the experiences and intersectional identities of victim-survivors.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 42 sections, 6 figures, 6 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Related Work
  3. Prevalence and Risk Factors
  4. Relationships
  5. Harms and Impacts
  6. Help-Seeking and Reporting
  7. Methods
  8. Ethical Considerations
  9. Study Design
  10. Questionnaire Design
  11. Data Analyses
  12. RQ1: Prevalence of IBSA Victimization by Country
  13. Results
  14. RQ2: Relationship between IBSA Victimization and Demographic Characteristics, including Age, Gender, and Sexual Minoritization
  15. Gender
  16. ...and 27 more sections

Figures (6)

  • Figure 1: Faceted bar chart of different types of IBSA, with prevalence by country (95% CIs in grey)
  • Figure 2: Best description of relationship to the perpetrator at the time of the incident (95% CIs in grey).
  • Figure 3: Feelings experienced as a result of respondents' most significant experiences (95% CIs in grey).
  • Figure 4: Harms experienced as a result of respondents' most significant experience (95% CIs in grey)
  • Figure 5: Victim-reported actions taken, and whether they were helpful. Note that "didn't do this" includes both actions that the victim-survivor chose not to take, as well as cases where the action was not applicable.
  • ...and 1 more figures