Mediators of the Relationship Between Sexual Assault and Sexual Behaviors in College Women

Abstract

Some research shows that sexual assault victimization is associated with increased engagement in risky sexual behavior (e.g., intercourse without use of a condom or contraceptives), whereas other research indicates sexual assault victimization is related to sexual aversion. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether posttraumatic stress symptoms, alcohol use, and sexual assertiveness mediated the relationship between adolescent/emerging adulthood sexual assault (ASA) and risky sexual behavior, and whether posttraumatic stress symptoms mediated the relationship between ASA and sexual aversion, among college women. A sample of 462 women from a Midwestern university completed online questionnaires assessing ASA, child sexual abuse (CSA), posttraumatic stress symptoms (i.e., intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, and dissociation), alcohol use, sexual assertiveness, risky sexual behavior, and sexual aversion. CSA was considered as a covariate in the mediation models. Results of mediation analyses showed that the relationship between ASA and risky sexual behavior with a new partner was partially mediated by greater alcohol use and lower sexual assertiveness and that the relationship between ASA and risky sexual behavior with a regular partner was partially mediated by greater alcohol use. Results of a model examining mediators of ASA and sexual aversion detected no significant mediators. Results suggest that college women with a history of ASA would benefit from psychoeducation on the effect of alcohol on sexual decision-making, as well as from sexual assertiveness skills training, to reduce potential risks associated with risky sexual behaviors, particularly with lesser known partners, including sexually transmitted infections and sexual revictimization.

Changing Cognitive Risk Factors for Sexual Aggression: Risky Sexual Scripts, Low Sexual Self-Esteem, Perception of Pornography, and Acceptance of Sexual Coercion

“…Psychological interventions targeting individuals rather than policies or institutional change can be successful to the extent that they address risk factors of perpetration and victimization that are amenable to change. Unlike biographical risk factors, such as childhood sexual abuse ( Krahé & Berger, 2017a ), this is true for behavioral variables, such as alcohol use ( Lorenz & Ullman, 2016 ), engaging in risky sexual behavior, for example, casual sex (e.g., Kelley & Gidycz, 2017 ), pornography use (e.g., Coyne et al, 2019 ), and for potentially protective behaviors, such as strengthening refusal assertiveness for rejecting unwanted sexual advances ( Marcantonio et al, 2018 ), and training resistance strategies ( Simpson Rowe et al, 2012 ). Accordingly, many intervention programs have been directed at changes in behaviors related to the vulnerability for sexual victimization and/or risk of sexual aggression perpetration (see reviews by DeGue et al, 2014 ; Gray et al, 2017 ; McMahon et al, 2019 ).…”

Female sexual function six months after sexual assault: post-traumatic stress disorder strongest risk factor for impaired function

“…Kelley and Gidycz found that increased trauma symptomatology mediated increased levels of dyspareunia and orgasm difficulties in women with a SAH. A significant negative effect of PTSD symptoms on other aspects of sexual function was not observed (Kelley & Gidycz, 2020). Considering the relative scarcity and the methodological limitations of previous studies on this important topic, we believe that further research on the association between PTSD and sexual dysfunction in adult women with nonmilitary sexual assault as index trauma is warranted.…”

Do Sexual Harassment Claimants’ Gender Identity and Race Influence Third-Party Observers’ Assumptions About the Harassment Incident?

“…Regardless of our focus on workplace sexual harassment in both Study 1 and Study 2, the social aspects of college campuses differ greatly from typical workplaces. As hearing about sexual behavior and sexual assault is likely more normalized in a campus (vs. workplace) setting, unwanted sexual attention may have been relatively front of mind for many Study 1 participants, regardless of the identity of the claimant (Brandhorst et al, 2012;Cantor et al, 2020;Kelley & Gidycz, 2020). Given these inconsistencies between Studies 1 and 2, we conducted a third study to further examine the generalizability of our findings.…”

“…Assumptions that John had referred to Michelle's race were more frequent when Michelle was a Black (vs. White) woman, regardless of gender identity. In fact, mentions of race were not (Brandhorst et al, 2012;Cantor et al, 2020;Kelley & Gidycz, 2020).…”