2
|
Herbenick D, Fu TC, Eastman-Mueller H, Thomas S, Svetina Valdivia D, Rosenberg M, Guerra-Reyes L, Wright PJ, Kawata K, Feiner JR. Frequency, Method, Intensity, and Health Sequelae of Sexual Choking Among U.S. Undergraduate and Graduate Students. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:3121-3139. [PMID: 35902430 PMCID: PMC9333342 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02347-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Although sexual choking is now prevalent, little is known about how people engage in choking in terms of frequency, intensity, method, or potential health sequelae. In a campus-representative survey of undergraduate and graduate students, we aimed to: (1) describe the prevalence of ever having choked/been choked as part of sex; (2) examine the characteristics of choking one's sexual partners (e.g., age at first experience, number of partners, frequency, intensity, method); (3) examine the characteristics of having been choked during sex; and (4) assess immediate responses of having been choked including the extent to which frequency and method (e.g., hand, ligature, limb) of having been choked predicts the range of responses endorsed by participants. A total of 4254 randomly sampled students (2668 undergraduate, 1576 graduate) completed a confidential online survey during Spring 2021. The mean age of first choking/being choked was about 19, with more undergraduates than graduate students reporting first choking/being choked in adolescence. Women and transgender/gender non-binary participants were significantly more likely to have been choked than men. Participants more often reported the use of hands compared to limbs or ligature. Common responses to being choked were pleasurable sensations/euphoria (81.7%), a head rush (43.8%), feeling like they could not breathe (43.0%), difficulty swallowing (38.9%), unable to speak (37.6%), and watery eyes (37.2%). About 15% had noticed neck bruising and 3% had lost consciousness from being choked. Greater frequency and intensity of being choked was associated with reports of more physical responses as was use of limb (arm, leg) or ligature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debby Herbenick
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
- The Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Tsung-Chieh Fu
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- The Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Heather Eastman-Mueller
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- The Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Sally Thomas
- Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Dubravka Svetina Valdivia
- Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, School of Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Molly Rosenberg
- The Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public, Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Lucia Guerra-Reyes
- Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- The Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Paul J Wright
- The Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- The Media School, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Keisuke Kawata
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Division of Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - John R Feiner
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stellpflug SJ, Weber W, Dietrich A, Springer B, Polansky R, Sachs C, Hsu A, McGuire S, Gwinn C, Strack G, Riviello R. Approach considerations for the management of strangulation in the emergency department. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022; 3:e12711. [PMID: 35445212 PMCID: PMC9013263 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with a history of strangulation present to the emergency department with a variety of different circumstances and injury patterns. We review the terminology, pathophysiology, evaluation, management, and special considerations for strangulation injuries, including an overview of forensic considerations and legal framework for strangulation events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - William Weber
- Section of Emergency MedicineThe University of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ann Dietrich
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency MedicineUniversity of South Carolina School of MedicineColumbiaSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Brian Springer
- Department of Emergency MedicineWright State UniversityDaytonOhioUSA
| | - Robin Polansky
- Department of Emergency MedicineCedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Carolyn Sachs
- Department of Emergency MedicineUniversity of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Antony Hsu
- Department of Emergency MedicineSt. Joseph Mercy HospitalAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Sarayna McGuire
- Department of Emergency MedicineThe Mayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Casey Gwinn
- Training Institute on Strangulation PreventionAlliance for Hope InternationalSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Gael Strack
- Training Institute on Strangulation PreventionAlliance for Hope InternationalSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ralph Riviello
- Department of Emergency MedicineThe University of Texas: San AntonioSan AntonioTexasUSA
| |
Collapse
|