Predictors of Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration Among Polish University Students: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

This two-wave study investigated predictors of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration in a convenience sample of 318 Polish university students (214 women), considering males and females from the perspective of both victims and perpetrators. At T1, we assessed participants' risky sexual scripts (defined as cognitive representations of consensual sexual interactions containing elements related to sexual aggression), risky sexual behavior, pornography use, religiosity, sexual self-esteem, and attitudes toward sexual coercion. These variables were used to predict sexual aggression perpetration and victimization reports obtained 12 months later (T2) for two time windows: (a) since the age of 15 until a year ago and (b) in the past year. As expected, risky sexual scripts were linked to risky sexual behavior and indirectly increased the likelihood of victimization in both time windows. Lower sexual self-esteem predicted sexual victimization since age 15, but not in the past 12 months. Pornography use and religiosity indirectly predicted victimization via risky scripts and behavior. Attitudes toward sexual coercion were a prospective predictor of sexual aggression perpetration. The results extend the international literature on sexual aggression and have implications for sexual education and sexual aggression prevention programs.

Discourse on Exposure to Pornography Content Online Between Arab Adolescents and Parents: Qualitative Study on its Impact on Sexual Education and Behavior

“…Unchecked exposure to pornographic movies and sexual contents leads, according to the interviewed adolescents, also to blackmail, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. These behaviors have also been found in other studies of youth throughout the world [ 12 , 59 , 69 ] and in the Arab society in particular.…”

“…Studies have shown that the nature of sexual discourse, its culture, and the way it is managed have a predictive correlation with the actual behavior of adolescents and adults [ 11 , 12 ]. The absence of overt sexual discourse also leads to ignorance [ 13 ], fears, and anxiety in Arab adolescent boys and girls.…”

“Adding fuel to the fire”? Does exposure to non-consenting adult or to child pornography increase risk of sexual aggression?

“…Finally, in a two-wave study (separated by a year) of Polish university students, additional data were provided suggesting a role for pornography use in predicting attitudes and behaviors. Tomaszewska and Krahé (2018) found that pornography use assessed at Time 1 predicted sexual aggression perpetration in the subsequent 12month period via its association with sexual aggression perpetration since the age of 15. The researchers also found that pornography use at Time 1 significantly predicted attitudes supporting sexual coercion, which had a direct prospective link to perpetration 12 months later.…”

Media Violence and the General Aggression Model

“…The same process of script learning, development, and use applies to aggression‐related scripts and media violence (Huesmann, ). For example, pornography use has been linked to risky sexual scripts and coercive sexual behavior (e.g., Tomaszewska & Krahé, ).…”