Peer sexual harassment among children and adolescents begins as early as Grade 4 and continues through lower secondary school, according to a doctoral thesis in psychology by Aziz-Kaan Dönmez from the University of Gothenburg. The study examined peer sexual harassment in Swedish students from Grades 4 to 9 and found that most individuals who engage in such behavior have themselves been victims of harassment. Previous research suggests that about half of the students studied reported experiencing unwanted or offensive sexualized behavior, which can include things like unwanted touching, sexual advances, or exposure to explicit images. These experiences are linked to increased anxiety, depressive symptoms, and higher rates of missing school. The study followed students annually from Grades 4 through 9 and found that the proportion of students reporting some form of victimization increased from Grades 4 to 7 and then remained steady. Both boys and girls were equally likely to experience sexual harassment, whether in middle or later school years. Dönmez noted that those who reported sexually harassing others often had also been victims or had witnessed harassment, making it hard to clearly separate perpetrators, victims, and witnesses. The thesis also found that children and adolescents who experienced sexual harassment—whether online or in person—reported higher levels of anxiety than those who had not. They were also more likely to limit their movements in daily life to feel safe. Students who felt their pubertal development was either earlier or later than their peers experienced more frequent victimization. On the other hand, those with stronger social support from peers and a more positive self-image were less likely to be victims. However, the study found differences between boys and girls in how online and school-based harassment affected anxiety and movement restrictions. For instance, school-based harassment was linked to higher anxiety in girls, while online harassment caused more anxiety in boys. Dönmez emphasized that peer sexual harassment among children and adolescents has often been viewed in a simplified way, but this thesis offers a more detailed and balanced perspective. The findings stress the importance of implementing school-based prevention programs before Grade 4 and recognizing that both boys and girls are equally likely to experience sexual harassment. This highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address the issue in schools.