Lifetime prevalence, associated factors, and circumstances of non-volitional sex in women and men in Britain: findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundSexual violence is increasingly recognised as a public health issue. Information about prevalence, associated factors, and consequences for health in the population of Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) is scarce. The third National Survey of Sexual Health Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) is the first of the Natsal surveys to include questions about sexual violence and the first population-based survey in Britain to explore the issue outside the context of crime.MethodsBetween Sept 6, 2010, and Aug 31, 2012, we did a probability sample survey of women and men aged 16–74 years living in Britain. We asked participants about their experience of sex against their will since age 13 years and the circumstances surrounding the most recent occurrence. We explored associations between ever experiencing non-volitional sex and a range of sociodemographic, health, and behavioural factors. We used logistic regression to estimate age-adjusted odds ratios to analyse factors associated with the occurrence of completed non-volitional sex in women and men.FindingsWe interviewed 15 162 people. Completed non-volitional sex was reported by 9·8% (95% CI 9·0–10·5) of women and 1·4% (1·1–1·7) of men. Median age (interdecile range) at most recent occurrence was 18 years (14–32) for women and 16 years (13–30) for men. Completed non-volitional sex varied by family structure and, in women, by age, education, and area-level deprivation. It was associated with poor health, longstanding illness or disability, and treatment for mental health conditions, smoking, and use of non-prescription drugs in the past year in both sexes, and with binge drinking in women. Completed non-volitional sex was also associated with reporting of first heterosexual intercourse before 16 years of age, same-sex experience, more lifetime sexual partners, ever being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, and low sexual function in both sexes, and, in women, with abortion and pregnancy outcome before 18 years of age. In most cases, the person responsible was known to the individual, although the nature of the relationship differed by age at most recent occurrence. Participants who were younger at interview were more likely to have told someone about the event and to have reported it to the police than were older participants.InterpretationThese data provide the first population prevalence estimates of non-volitional sex in Britain. We showed it to be mainly an experience of young age and strongly associated with a range of adverse health outcomes in both women and men.FundingGrants from the UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, with support from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Department of Health.

Sexual function in Britain: findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3)

“…Our data suggest variation in sexual function with aspects of life stage and life events (eg, employment status, pregnancy, and relationship status). Our data also show associations between low sexual function and other sexual health outcomes such as diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection 28 and non-volitional sex 29 . We also show strong associations between low sexual function and many of the factors associated with these outcomes, such as higher number of sexual partners over the lifetime, paying for sex, and reporting same-sex partners.…”

Consensual Victim–Perpetrator Intercourse after Nonconsensual Sex: The Impact of Prior Relationship

“…These numbers are comparable to victimization rates reported in published studies where nonconsensual sexual activities include touching as well as oral and penetrative sex (e.g., Black et al, 2011;Byers & Glenn, 2012;Casey & Nurius, 2006;Koss, 1985;Koss, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987;Palmer, McMahon, Rounsaville, & Ball, 2010). As expected, these rates are higher than those reported in studies limiting nonconsensual sex to oral, anal, or penile-vaginal intercourse (10% to 20%; e.g., Basile, Chen, Black, & Saltzman, 2007;Macdowall et al, 2013). We did not define which sexual activities constituted nonconsensual sex without intercourse; 89% of victims of nonconsensual sex without intercourse reported experiencing some form of nonconsensual genital touching during the event.…”

Open Surgery Against Laparoscopic Surgery for Mid-Rectal or Low-Rectal Cancer of Male Patients

“…For example, most studies included patients less than 60 years of age because the occurrence of postoperative genital dysfunction increased with an increase in age. 35,36 We arrived at the consensus that the guarantee of radical resection of the tumor should be the first priority of RC surgery, followed by function protection. Therefore, we also investigated the long-term outcome of laparoscopic rectomy for RC.…”