Social Norms and Beliefs Regarding Sexual Risk and Pregnancy Involvement among Adolescent Males Treated for Dating Violence Perpetration

Abstract

The present study explored perceived sexual norms and behaviors related to sexual risk and pregnancy involvement among adolescent males (ages 13 to 20) participating in programs for perpetrators of dating violence. The purpose of this study was to generate hypotheses regarding the contexts and mechanisms underlying the intersection of adolescent dating violence, sexual risk and pregnancy. Six focus groups were conducted (N = 34 participants). A number of major themes emerged: 1) male norm of multiple partnering, 2) perceived gain of male social status from claims of sexual activity, 3) perception that rape is uncommon combined with belief that girls claiming to be raped are liars, 4) perception that men rationalize rapes to avoid responsibility, 5) condom non-use in the context of rape and sex involving substance use, 6) beliefs that girls lie and manipulate boys in order to become pregnant and trap them into relationships, and 7) male avoidance of responsibility and negative responses to pregnancy. The combination of peer-supported norms of male multiple partnering and adversarial sexual beliefs appear to support increased male sexual risk, lack of accountability for sexual risk, and rationalization of rape and negative responses to pregnancy. Further research focused on the context of male sexual risk and abusive relationship behaviors is needed to inform intervention with young men to promote sexual health and prevent rape, dating violence, and adolescent pregnancy.

Intimate partner violence perpetration, standard and gendered STI/HIV risk behaviour, and STI/HIV diagnosis among a clinic-based sample of men

“…This finding also indicates that the range of STI/HIV risk behaviour assessed within the current study, while more detailed than standard surveillance methods, 18 19 44 was still inadequate in scope and/or precision; factors not fully captured warrant further consideration, including coital frequency, context and nature of men's anal sex (eg, receptive or insertive), and forced and unprotected sex in the contexts of both substance use 45 and casual concurrent partnerships. 14 Although female-to-male STI/HIV transmission is relatively inefficient biologically, 46 and recent evidence indicates that abusive men are more likely than their non-abusive counterparts to acquire HIV outside the marital relationship, 17 men may have acquired STI/HIV from their female partners, particularly if such women have been infected in a prior abusive relationship.…”

Acknowledging a persistent truth: domestic violence in pregnancy

“…These values appear to perpetuate increased male sexual risk-taking, a lack of accountability for sexual risk, the rationalization of rape and negative responses to pregnancy. 15 Therefore there are also wider, less tangible predisposing factors which contrive to make abusive behaviour not only acceptable but even desirable.…”

Social and Environmental Contexts of Adolescent and Young Adult Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study

“…Keywords: intimate partner violence; dating violence; adolescent and young male development; contextual factors; male perpetrators Silverman et al, 2006;Tilley & Brackley, 2005). The paucity of studies focused on the relational and contextual factors related to adolescent and young adult male interpersonal violence perpetration confounds efforts to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies (Silverman et al, 2001;Sturdevant et al, 2001;Wingood, DiClemente, McCree, Harrington, & Davies, 2001).…”