Similarity and Differences in Sexual Violence Against Adolescents and Adult Women: The Need to Focus on Adolescent Victims

Introduction: Violence against women remains globally one of the most important human rights violations and public health threats. Yet, data on the potential impact of lifetime exposure to violence, an important stressor, on cardiovascular disease (CVD) are scarce. Hypothesis: Adult women with a history of childhood and/or adult exposure to violence are at increased risk of subclinical CVD compared to women without this history. Methods: We evaluated the association of childhood and adult exposure to violence and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in 634 disease-free women from the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort. In 2012-13, study participants retrospectively responded to 12 violence-related items from the Life Stressor Checklist questionnaire. We categorized violence as neglect, and observed, physical and sexual violence, in childhood and adulthood. IMT was measured by standardized neurologists through ultrasound and log-transformed. We defined carotid atherosclerosis as IMT ≥0.8mm or plaque. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to assess the association between violence, IMT and carotid atherosclerosis. Results: In childhood, the prevalence of neglect was 8.2%, observed violence 22.2%, sexual violence 6.9% and physical violence 8.2%. In adulthood, neglect was present in 17.4% participants, observed violence in 21.6%, sexual violence in 10.4% and physical violence in 27.4%. Childhood exposure to sexual violence appeared to be associated to IMT in midlife but remained non-significant. In adulthood, we observed an association between exposure to physical violence and IMT when comparing exposed to unexposed women (multivariable-adjusted mean % difference=2.3%; 95%CI 0.1, 4.6). The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for carotid atherosclerosis was 1.69 (95%CI 1.07, 2.69) comparing women who reported physical violence relative to those who did not. Conclusions: Exposure to certain types of violence may be associated with increased subclinical CVD in middle-aged women.

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Sexual violence against women in Sweden: Associations with combined childhood violence and sociodemographic factors

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494820939015 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 140349482093901

Author(s):

Mariella Öberg ◽

Alkistis Skalkidou ◽

Gun Heimer ◽

Steven Lucas

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Adult Women ◽

College Level ◽

Psychological Violence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Violence ◽

Physical And Psychological Violence

Aims: This cross-sectional, population-based study aimed to investigate the prevalence of violence polyvictimization during childhood and sexual violence in adulthood among women, and how childhood violence exposure and sociodemographic factors associate with women’s risk of experiencing sexual violence in adulthood. Methods: A survey regarding lifetime experiences of sexual, physical and psychological violence was sent to a national sample of 10,000 women aged 18–74 years, of which 56% participated. Data were analysed using Chi-square analyses and logistic regression. Results: Sexual violence before 18 years of age was reported by 16.3% and rape/attempted rape in adulthood by 10.2% of the women. In univariate analyses, sexual, physical, and psychological violence during childhood was associated with rape/attempted rape in adulthood (odds ratio 4.5, confidence interval 3.2–6.2; odds ratio 2.5, confidence interval 1.3–4.6; and odds ratio 2.5, confidence interval 1.8–3.2, respectively). Associations were stronger for combined exposure to sexual and physical (odds ratio 5.5, confidence interval 2.5–12.3), sexual and psychological (odds ratio 9.2, confidence interval 6.7–12.8) or sexual, physical, and psychological violence (odds ratio 14.1, confidence interval 10.4–19.2) during childhood. Rape/attempted rape after 18 years of age was more common among women who were single, those with college-level education and those who had been unemployed or had received social welfare payments. Most associations remained relatively unchanged when including all exposure and background variables in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Although several of the sociodemographic factors studied showed significant associations, multiple exposure to violence during childhood was found to be the most potent risk factor for sexual violence in adulthood among adult women.

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The Role of Stress and Genital Immunity in Sexual Trauma and HIV Susceptibility Among Adolescent Girls and Adult Women (The THRIVE Study): Protocol for a Longitudinal Case-Control Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.18190 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jamila K Stockman ◽

Katherine M Anderson ◽

Maile Y Karris ◽

Constance A Benson ◽

Kiyomi Tsuyuki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Adult Women ◽

Hiv Susceptibility ◽

The Past ◽

Anti Hiv ◽

Control Study

BACKGROUND The relationship between sexual violence and HIV risk has been extensively documented through social and behavioral research; however, the underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the THRIVE (Trauma and HIV Risk: Investigating Stress and the Immune Disruption of the Vaginal Environment) Study is to examine the impact of sexual trauma due to sexual violence on HIV susceptibility through dysregulation of soluble inflammatory and anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV biomarkers in the female genital tract and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis among adolescent girls and adult women. METHODS The THRIVE Study is a longitudinal case-control study conducted in San Diego, CA, among a racially diverse sample. Cases are adolescent girls (aged 14-19 years) or adult women (aged 20-45 years) who have experienced forced vaginal penetration by a phallus perpetrated by a man within the past 15 days. Controls are adolescent girls or adult women who have engaged in consensual vaginal sex with a man within the past 15 days. At baseline and 1- and 3-month follow-up study visits, participants undergo a urine-based pregnancy test; venipuncture blood draw for HIV, C-reactive protein, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and progesterone testing; a 45-min interviewer-administered computer survey; and cervicovaginal lavage to measure proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV soluble immune biomarkers. After each study visit, participants self-collect saliva specimens (upon waking, 30 min after waking, and 45 min after waking) at home for 3 consecutive days, which are later assayed for cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Participants receive compensation at each study visit and for the return of saliva specimens, and a list of local medical and support services. Study procedures use trauma-informed care methods, given the sensitive nature of the study and enrollment of women in the acute phase after sexual trauma. All research staff and investigators adhere to ethical principles and guidelines in the conduct of research activities. Data will be analyzed for descriptive and inferential analyses. RESULTS The recruitment of participants is ongoing. The publication of the first results is expected by late 2021. CONCLUSIONS The THRIVE Study will provide foundational knowledge on how sexual trauma due to sexual violence increases susceptibility to HIV acquisition via alterations in cervicovaginal immune regulation and the psychobiology of the stress responses. These findings will inform future research on mechanistic models of in vitro and in vivo injury and cervicovaginal wound healing processes, which may lead to the development of nonvaccine biomedical HIV prevention products for girls and women. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/18190

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Somatic Symptoms in Young Adult Women Who Experienced Sexual Violence Throughout Life Development: A Systematic Review

Proceedings of the International Conference on Economics, Business, Social, and Humanities (ICEBSH 2021) ◽

10.2991/assehr.k.210805.084 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Angelia Nathali Pichel ◽

Denrich Suryadi

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Young Adult ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

Adult Women ◽

Young Adult Women

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The Impact of Avoidant/Disengagement Coping and Social Support on the Mental Health of Adolescent Victims of Sexual Violence in Eastern Congo

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00382 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

An Verelst ◽

Sarah Bal ◽

Maarten De Schryver ◽

Nanc Say Kana ◽

Eric Broekaert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Eastern Congo ◽

The Impact ◽

Adolescent Victims

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Sexism, Moral Disengagement, and Dark Triad Traits on Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Against Women and Community Men

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/10790632211051689 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107906322110516

Author(s):

María Patricia Navas ◽

Lorena Maneiro ◽

Olalla Cutrín ◽

José A. Gómez-Fraguela ◽

Jorge Sobral

Keyword(s):

Sexual Assault ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Violence Against Women ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Moral Disengagement ◽

Ambivalent Sexism ◽

Dark Triad ◽

Adult Women ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Sexist Attitudes

The field of criminal psychology involves delving into psychological profiles prone to accepting and justifying sexist attitudes that support sexual violence against adult women (SVAW). The aim of the current study is to analyze the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relationships between dark triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) and ambivalent sexism in a sample of 74 male perpetrators of sexual violence against women ( M = 40.58; SD = 10.05) convicted of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault and 160 community men ( M = 43.54; SD = 10.63). Since there were no significant differences in the measured variables between individuals convicted of IPV and those convicted of sexual assault, these two groups were combined into a single group of perpetrators of sexual violence against women. A comparison of incarcerated and community men showed that perpetrators of sexual violence against women reported significantly higher levels of ambivalent sexism, moral disengagement, and psychopathy than community men. The moderated mediational model showed that the dark triad was not directly associated with ambivalent sexism, but the relationship was fully mediated by moral disengagement mechanisms. Moreover, the interdependence of the variables evaluated was moderated by group. The moral disengagement mechanisms that explain both hostile and benevolent sexism were associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy among perpetrators of sexual violence against women, whereas among community men, these mechanisms were associated with Machiavellianism and narcissism. These findings are discussed as they pertain to the treatment of perpetrators of sexual violence against women.

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Male-to-Female Sexual Violence in Rural Communities: A Sociological Review

Dignity A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence ◽

10.23860/dignity.2021.06.02.07 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Walter DeKeseredy ◽

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Empirical Work ◽

Adult Women ◽

Sociological Knowledge ◽

Female Violence ◽

Current State ◽

New Directions ◽

Sociological Literature ◽

Male To Female

The extant sociological literature on male-to-female violence in rural communities reveals that the bulk of the empirical work on this problem focuses mainly on non-lethal physical assaults, such as beatings. Much more research on sexual violence is sorely needed. The main objective of this review is twofold: (1) to describe the current state of international sociological knowledge about male sexual violence against adult women and (2) to suggest new directions in research and theory.

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Evaluating the assistance to adolescent victims of sexual violence at a reference service in Brazil from 2011–2018

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics ◽

10.1002/ijgo.13724 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alejandra Suyapa Becerra Torres ◽

Caroline Alves Duarte ◽

Barbara Zantut Wittmann ◽

Maria Teresa Ferreira Côrtes ◽

Ândria Cléia Alves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Reference Service ◽

Adolescent Victims

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Technology-Facilitated Domestic and Sexual Violence: A Review

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801219875821 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (15-16) ◽

pp. 1828-1854

Author(s):

Nicola Henry ◽

Asher Flynn ◽

Anastasia Powell

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Network Theory ◽

Actor Network Theory ◽

Research Literature ◽

Adult Women ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Future Directions ◽

Research And Practice ◽

Dating Abuse ◽

Communications Technologies

This article investigates the phenomenon of domestic and sexual violence against adult women using digital communications technologies. The article explores terminological and conceptual challenges and describes the empirical research literature in this field to date in relation to digital dating abuse, intimate partner cyberstalking, technology-facilitated sexual assault, image-based sexual abuse, and online sexual harassment. The article also discusses policy and practice responses to this growing problem, as well as future directions for research. We argue that research and practice need to be guided by existing conceptual frameworks that utilize gender and actor–network theory to understanding the causes and consequences of women’s experiences of abuse and violence facilitated by digital technologies.

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