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Villeneuve É, Paradis A, Brassard A, Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Fernet M, Gewirtz-Meydan A, Godbout N. Dissociation and Sexual Concerns in Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Role of Identity Cohesion. J Trauma Dissociation 2024; 25:500-515. [PMID: 38766998 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2024.2356597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Research on male survivors of childhood sexual abuse is notably deficient when it comes to addressing their sexual concerns, such as experiences of sexual distress, negative thoughts, and feelings related to their sexuality. Dissociation, a known consequence of childhood sexual abuse, could be associated with higher sexual concerns through identity cohesion. Precisely, dissociation can potentially be related to lower identity cohesion (e.g., not knowing what you want or need). In return, lower identity cohesion may be related to higher sexual concerns by impeding the capacity to know and accept oneself, which tends to promote a positive and healthy sexuality. This study aimed to examine the role of identity cohesion in the link between dissociation and sexual concerns in 105 men consulting for their history of childhood sexual abuse. Men completed questionnaires assessing dissociation, sexual concerns, and identity cohesion at admission in a community setting. Results of a path analysis revealed an indirect association between dissociation and higher sexual concerns through lower identity cohesion. The model explained 27.6% of the variance in sexual concerns. This study highlights the relevance of interventions targeting dissociative symptoms to improve identity cohesion and sexual health in male survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élise Villeneuve
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alison Paradis
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Audrey Brassard
- Department of Psychology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Mylène Fernet
- Department of Sexology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan
- School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Natacha Godbout
- Department of Sexology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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O'Connor J, Smith L, Woerner J, Khan A. Protective Factors for Sexual Violence Perpetration Among High School and College Students: A Systematic Review. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024; 25:1073-1087. [PMID: 37199485 DOI: 10.1177/15248380231171189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
To prevent sexual violence (SV), it is important to understand both risk and protective factors for SV perpetration. Although considerable research has examined risk factors for perpetration of SV among high school and college students, less research is dedicated to investigating protective factors which might mitigate the risk of perpetration. This review summarizes existing research on protective factors for perpetration of SV among high school and college students. Thirteen articles were included in this study after reviewing 5,464 citations. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed scholarly journals, written in English, and published between 2010 and 2021. The included articles indicate that 11 factors were significantly related to less SV perpetration. Key protective factors identified in this study include empathy, impulse control, social support, parental factors, peers, church attendance/ religiosity, and school connections. In addition to protective factors, this review also examined study characteristics for the included articles and found that most participants were White and just over half of the studies were longitudinal. Overall, these findings indicate a lack of research focused on protective factors for SV perpetration, and a need for more research on the identified protective factors and to investigate additional protective factors. Such studies should include longitudinal designs and more diverse samples to understand the range of protective factors that can be bolstered through interventions to prevent SV among high school and college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia O'Connor
- School of Social Work and Violence Against Women cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Lakaysia Smith
- Public Affairs PhD program - Social Work track, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jacqueline Woerner
- Department of Sociology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
- Department of Psychology and Violence Against Women cluster, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Assad Khan
- College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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Ray TN, Parkhill MR. Profiles of Childhood Victimization as Predictors of Sexual Aggression and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration. Violence Against Women 2022:10778012221145298. [PMID: 36575637 DOI: 10.1177/10778012221145298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The study utilized a latent profile analysis to evaluate distinct combinations of men's childhood victimization experiences and their communal predictive ability for sexual aggression (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Men living in the United States (N = 399) completed assessments of emotional, physical, and sexual childhood victimization, as well as SA and IPV toward women. The results indicated that members of profiles characterized by moderate to high frequencies of childhood victimization-especially sexual victimization-were at increased risk of SA and IPV perpetration. Contrary to expectations, adult- versus peer-perpetrated victimization did not appear to substantially alter risk of perpetration.
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Gewirtz-Meydan A. Treating Sexual Dysfunctions Among Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: An Overview of Empirical Research. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2022; 23:840-853. [PMID: 33317434 DOI: 10.1177/1524838020979842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sexual problems are very prevalent among survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). Yet, various approaches to therapy do not seem to address this issue when treating these individuals. Traditional sex therapy may also not suit the experiences of CSA survivors, as CSA was not considered when the most well-known and frequently used techniques were developed. The present review sought to identify (1) theory-based therapeutic approaches that address sexual problems among CSA survivors and offer treatment protocols (including an outline of specific therapy stages, sessions, or techniques) to treat these sexual problems and (2) identify therapeutic approaches that include a protocol for treating sexual problems among CSA survivors that was empirically tested and validated. In total, six approaches for treating sexual dysfunctions among CSA survivors that provide detailed guidelines for implementing the approach within sex therapy for CSA survivors were identified in the literature. Only two of the studies conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the intervention. This overview concludes with important issues to address when treating sexual problems among CSA survivors and a call for additional evidence-based practices for treating sexual problems among survivors of CSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan
- The Sex and Couple Therapy Unit, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
- The Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
- School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Israel
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Craig AN, Peterson ZD, Janssen E, Goodrich D, Heiman JR. The Impact of Sexual Arousal and Emotion Regulation on Men's Sexual Aggression Proclivity. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP264-NP280. [PMID: 32345118 DOI: 10.1177/0886260520915544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Extant literature supports a relationship between sexual arousal and increased likelihood of sexually coercive behavior in men. The present study investigated the impact of sexual arousal on sexual coercion proclivity and the degree to which emotion regulation moderated this relationship in the context of two separate affect inductions. We predicted that sexual arousal would more strongly predict sexual coercion likelihood for men scoring lower on emotion regulation ability compared with men with above average emotion regulation abilities. Male participants with (n = 38) and without (n = 40) self-reported histories of sexual coercion were recruited from urban sexually transmitted infection testing clinics. Participants completed a measure of emotion regulation, underwent a positive and negative affect induction, viewed an erotic video, and reported on their level of sexual arousal immediately prior to completing a hypothetical sexual coercion likelihood laboratory task. Relationships between emotion regulation, sexual arousal, and sexual coercion likelihood were examined using moderation analyses. Sexual arousal was associated with greater reported sexual coercion likelihood. For men with poorer emotion regulation, sexual arousal significantly and positively predicted sexual coercion likelihood in the positive affect condition. Sexual arousal did not significantly predict sexual coercion for men with above average emotion regulation. Findings may have implications for the assessment of individual risk for coercive sexual behavior as well as primary prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zoë D Peterson
- Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
- University of Missouri, St. Louis, USA
| | - Erick Janssen
- Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
- University of Leuven, Belgium
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Ahi Q, Zarea S, Vaziri S, Shahabizadeh F. Sexual schemas and high-risk sexual behaviors in female students: The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation. INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF HEALTH SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/iahs.iahs_84_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Kirwan M, Svenson D, Pickett SM, Parkhill MR. Emotion regulation as a mediator between sleep quality and interpersonal aggression. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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King AR, Kuhn SK, Strege C, Russell TD, Kolander T. Revisiting the link between childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual aggression. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2019; 94:104022. [PMID: 31200261 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment poses a risk factor for adult sexual aggression among men. OBJECTIVE Efforts were made to examine links between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual aggression after controlling variance associated with other forms of abuse. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING This sample was comprised of men (n = 489) who completed a national survey regarding their history of possible abuse and/or sexual aggression. METHODS Maltreatment indices included CSA, parental and sibling physical abuse, exposure to domestic violence, peer bullying, and family emotional abuse. Self-report indicators of sexual frotteurism, coercion and rape were provided by the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Perpetration. RESULTS CSA links with the criterion indicators were relatively stronger (r = 0.36, d = 0.65, p < .001) than those found for non-sexual forms of abuse. CSA accounted for unshared variance in sexual aggression with these effects magnified by the addition of parental physical abuse (d = 2.1) or exposure to domestic violence (d = 2.2). The relative risks of prior acts of rape were elevated by CSA (RR = 4.39, p < .001), parental physical abuse (RR = 3.85, p < 0.001), exposure to domestic violence (RR = 3.81, p < .001), or sibling physical abuse (RR = 2.56, p = 0.007). These risks of completed rape were higher as well among respondents polyvictimized by two (RR = 4.92, p < .001) or more (RR = 8.94, p < 0.001) forms of abuse. CONCLUSIONS Multiple forms of child maltreatment, particularly CSA, were strongly associated with adult sexual aggression in this sample of men from the general population.
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Kirwan M, Lanni DJ, Warnke A, Pickett SM, Parkhill MR. Emotion Regulation Moderates the Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and the Perpetration of Sexual Aggression. Violence Against Women 2018; 25:1053-1073. [PMID: 30360699 DOI: 10.1177/1077801218808396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sexual assault remains a significant problem on college campuses, and previous research identifies alcohol and emotion regulation as potential contributors to perpetration. Data were collected from 101 male undergraduates, assessing emotion regulation difficulties, sexual aggression perpetration toward women, and alcohol consumption. Results showed that emotion regulation moderated the relationship between alcohol consumption and sexual aggression, such that those with high emotion regulation difficulties were more likely to behave in a sexually aggressive manner. Thus, men with high emotion regulation difficulties may be more likely than those with low difficulties to use alcohol to overcome their inhibitions and perpetrate sexual aggression.
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Peterson ZD, Janssen E, Goodrich D, Fortenberry JD, Hensel DJ, Heiman JR. Child Sexual Abuse and Negative Affect as Shared Risk Factors for Sexual Aggression and Sexual HIV Risk Behavior in Heterosexual Men. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2018; 47:465-480. [PMID: 29090393 PMCID: PMC5775919 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-017-1079-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has suggested that sexually aggressive behavior and sexual HIV risk behavior are associated. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a well-established risk factor for both types of problematic sexual behavior. Negative affect (i.e., anxiety, depression, and anger) is a less well-studied risk factor, but it has been theorized to relate to both sexual aggression and HIV risk behavior. Thus, this study sought to (1) confirm the relationship between sexual aggression and HIV risk behavior, (2) establish CSA and negative affect as shared risk factors for sexual aggression and HIV risk behavior, and (3) evaluate whether negative affect mediates the relationship between CSA and sexual aggression and between CSA and HIV sexual risk in a sample of heterosexual men. We recruited 18- to 30-year-old heterosexual men (N = 377) from urban sexually transmitted infection clinics. Men completed measures of sexual HIV risk history (number of partners and condom use), sexual aggression history, CSA history, and trait negative affect (anger, anxiety, and depression). Structural equation modeling was used to examine hypothesized direct and indirect relationships. In the final SEM model, sexual aggression history and sexual HIV risk behavior were correlated. CSA was associated with both types of problematic sexual behavior. Anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between CSA and sexual aggression and between CSA and sexual HIV risk behavior (χ 2[1300] = 2121.79, p < .001; CFI = 0.905; RMSEA [90% CI] = .044 [.041-.047]). Sexual aggression appears to be part of a constellation of sexual risk behaviors; thus, it may be possible to develop prevention programs that target both sexual HIV risk and sexual aggression. CSA is a shared risk factor for sexual aggression and HIV risk behavior through the pathway of anxiety. Thus, anxiety might be one promising target for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoё D Peterson
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA.
| | - Erick Janssen
- Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - David Goodrich
- The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - J Dennis Fortenberry
- Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Devon J Hensel
- Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Julia R Heiman
- The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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