Unveiling the Impact of Social Support on Minor Attracted Persons with Desiree Elchuk

RESOLVing Violence

Trigger Warning: The following episode discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics related to sexual attraction to minors, stigma, mental health challenges, and suicidality. Listener discretion is advised. If any of these subjects may cause you discomfort or distress, please consider skipping this episode or listening with caution.
In this episode of Resolving Violence, we sit down with Desiree Elchuk, a researcher with a background in psychology from the University of Saskatchewan. Desiree's groundbreaking work offers a deep dive into the lives of minor attracted persons (MAPs), examining how stigma-related stressors impact their mental health and social relationships. With a compassionate and scientifically rigorous approach, Desiree outlines the association between relational quality, loneliness, psychological distress, and the courageous acts of disclosure within this highly stigmatized group.
Using a human-centered lens, Desiree shares findings from her online survey research, including surprising data about the levels of support MAPs can encounter within their personal networks. The discussion extends to the significance of language and labels in scaffolding either support or stigma and how these factors play pivotal roles in the well-being of MAPs.
Tune in for an episode that challenges preconceptions, enlightens with empirical evidence, and advocates a call for empathy and understanding across the spectrum of human experience.
Learn More About Our Guest:
Desiree Elchuck is a current clinical psychology PhD student at the University of Saskatchewan. She completed her Master's of Science in Forensic Psychology at Saint Mary's University. Her research interests include psychopathology, pedophilia, prevention of sexual offending against children, and general sex research.

To learn more about Resolve SK, head to research-groups.usask.ca/resolve/