Factors and processes in heterosexual competence and risk: An integrated review of the evidence

Self-Esteem, Risky Sexual Behavior, and Pregnancy in a New Zealand Birth Cohort

“…The research literature has identified a wide range of causes of such behavior, including exposure to economic disadvantage and personal difficulties in childhood (e.g., Fergusson et al, 1994;Johnson et al, 1994;MacLeod, 2001;Moffitt & Team, 2002;Pitzner et al, 2000;Swann et al, 2003;Vanwesenbeeck et al, 1999). Self-esteem, long thought to be a determinant of poor developmental outcomes (e.g., Colquhoun, 1997;Kahne, 1996), has also been examined in this context, and some support has been generated for a relationship between low self-esteem and risky sexual behavior.…”

“…For example, it has been welldocumented that low self-esteem is a result of socioeconomic deprivation, family dysfunction, personal disadvantages and difficulties, and exposure to abuse (e.g., California Task Force To Promote Self-Esteem and Personal and Social Responsibility, 1990;Leary, Tambor, Terdal, & Downs, 1995;Mecca, Smelser, & Vasconcellos, 1989;Mruk, 1995;Parker & Benson, 2004;Rosenberg, Schooler, & Schoenbach, 1989). It is also clear that these factors are related to longer-term sexual risk taking behavior (e.g., Fergusson, Horwood, & Lynskey, 1994;Johnson, Wadsworth, Wellings, & Field, 1994;MacLeod, 2001;Moffitt & Team, 2002;Pitzner, McGarry-Long, & Drummond, 2000;Swann, Bowe, McCormick, & Kosmin, 2003;Vanwesenbeeck, van Zessen, Ingham, Jaramazovib, & Stevens, 1999). This raises the question of whether statistical relationships between selfesteem and risky sexual behavior reflect the direct effects of self-esteem, or a more general process in which the psychosocial context of the individual leads to the development of both low self-esteem and an increased sexual risk taking.…”

A meta‐analysis of the relationship between social skills and sexual offenders

“…Part of the evaluation of communication competence is the ability to work to achieve goals in a collaborative manner. Vanwsenbeeck, van Zessen, Ingham, Jaramazovic, and Stevens (1999) argued that a lack of heterosexual competence might put an individual at risk. The current meta-analysis provides additional evidence that developing social skills is an asset and might reduce the risk of anti-social behavior.…”

Prevalence and correlates of young people's sexual aggression perpetration and victimisation in 10 European countries: a multi-level analysis

“…It is less clear how sexual assertiveness relates to the perpetration of sexual aggression. Sexually aggressive men have been found to show a lack of basic interactional skills that undermines their sociosexual competence (Vanwesenbeeck et al 1999), which would suggest that sexual assertiveness and perpetration of sexual aggression should also be negatively related.…”