Experiences of Non-consensual Sex of Older Adult Men and Women in Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Portugal

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of non-consensual sex in older adult men and women across Europe, and to find out what variables predict such experiences in different European countries. Data were collected using probability samples from populations, aged 60-75 years, in Norway (N = 1271), Denmark (N = 1045), Belgium (N = 991), and Portugal (N = 509), using postal questionnaires. Around 5% of men included in the study, in all of the countries, reported non-consensual sexual experiences. Non-consensual sexual experiences were higher in gay/bisexual men when compared against heterosexual men. Partnered men had a lower likelihood of childhood non-consensual sex than those without partners. Compared against men with primary education, those who had undergone tertiary education had a lower likelihood of having experienced adult non-consensual sex. For women, rates of reporting non-consensual sex before and after the age of 18 years were lowest in Portugal (2% and 6%, respectively) and highest in Norway (9% and 11%, respectively). Compared with women with no religious affiliations, protestant women showed a lower likelihood of having experienced childhood non-consensual sex. In comparison to Norwegian women, Belgian and Portuguese women were observed to have had a lower likelihood of having experienced childhood non-consensual sex. Compared to women who were non-partnered, had no religious affiliation, or had primary education, women who were partnered, Roman Catholic, and had higher education showed a lower likelihood of having experienced non-consensual sex in adulthood. Experience of non-consensual sex correlated significantly, albeit weakly, with greater levels of both anxiety and depression, decreased subjective well-being, lower perceived intimacy with one's partner, and higher feelings of loneliness. Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation Response to Reviewer #2: 1. Consider the title 'across Europe' seems rather broad when four countries are identified. Response: "across Europe" has been replaced with "in Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Portugal". 2. It would be helpful in the introduction to include types of non-consensual sex which will be discussed (e.g. obligational) as well as the factors used in participant information (gender, sexual orientation, religion, education). Response: Thank you for pointing out this. We have slightly rewritten and reorganized the Introduction section to make it clearer what we are studying. 3. Page 17, lines 22-38 are rather speculative which differs from the authors' highlysubstantiated, well researched arguments elsewhere. Given the nature of this journal and the focus on sexuality, some references would make these speculative comments more substantiated. Response: We thank the reviewer for pointing out this weakness. We have rewritten this piece to: "The factors that contribute to the association between sexual victimization and sexual orientation are poorly understood (Balsam et al., 2005). Potential explanations could ...

Norwegian Data on Prevalence, Sexual Risk Behaviors, Sexual Problems, and Sexual Satisfaction in Women Who Have Sex Exclusively with Women, Women Who Have Sex Exclusively with Men, and Women Who Have Sex with Men and Women

“…Sexual identity was measured by the following question: “Do you currently regard yourself as:” where the given responses were homosexual/lesbian (1), heterosexual (2), bisexual/pansexual (3), asexual (4), and other (5). The question was retrieved and slightly modified from the Healthy Sexual Aging project (Træen et al., 2020 ).…”