scholarly journals Physical and sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse and HIV/STI risk behaviour among alcohol-using women engaged in sex work in Mongolia

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Parcesepe ◽  
Aira Toivgoo ◽  
Mingway Chang ◽  
Marion Riedel ◽  
Catherine Carlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Risk Behaviour

Does sexual violence contribute to elevated rates of anxiety and depression in females?

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. FERGUSSON, ◽  
N. R. SWAIN-CAMPBELL ◽  
L. J. HORWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Internalizing Disorders ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Statistical Control ◽  
Health And Development ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Internalizing Disorder

Background. It is well documented that females have higher rates of internalizing disorders (anxiety, depression) than males. It is also well known that females have higher exposure to childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault. Recently, it has been proposed that the higher levels of internalizing disorders in females may be caused by their greater exposure to sexual violence.Method. Data were gathered as part of the Christchurch Health and Development Study. In this study a cohort of 1265 children born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1977 have been studied from birth to age 21 years. The measures collected included: major depression and anxiety, childhood sexual abuse and adolescent sexual assault.Results. Findings confirmed the established conclusion that internalizing disorders are over twice as common in females than males (ORs 2·2–2·7). In addition, it was found that females were exposed to higher rates of sexual violence than males (ORs 5·1–8·4). Statistical control for gender related differences in exposure to sexual violence reduced the associations between gender and anxiety and depression. Nonetheless, even after such control, gender was significantly (P<0·0001) related to both anxiety (OR = 1·8; 95% CI, 1·3–2·4) and depression (OR = 1·9; 95% CI, 1·4–2·3).Conclusions. Greater female exposure to sexual violence may be a factor that contributes to greater female susceptibility to internalizing disorders. However, even after adjustment for gender differences in exposure to sexual violence it is clear that a substantial relationship between gender and internalizing disorder persists.

scholarly journals Empowerment or Threat: Perceptions of Childhood Sexual Abuse in the #MeToo Era

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052092578
Author(s):  
Melissa S. de Roos ◽  
Daniel N. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Child Victims ◽  
Defensive Response ◽  
Threat Perceptions ◽  
Amazon's Mechanical Turk ◽  
Shed Light

The rise of the #MeToo movement has shed light on the prominence of sexual violence, and its victims who often remain silent. Despite increasing awareness, victims or survivors of sexual violence who disclose may be faced with negative reactions such as disbelief or blame. Such reactions extend to child victims of sexual abuse. This study aimed to shed light on gender differences in responses to sexual violence against a backdrop of #MeToo. Through an online survey ( N = 253) on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, we assessed participants’ exposure to and perception of the #MeToo movement. In addition, we measured proximity to a victim or perpetrator of sexual violence. The effect of these variables on participants’ response to a disclosure of childhood sexual abuse was examined. Results indicated that men are more likely to perceive the movement as threatening than women. Furthermore, a discrepancy in proximity to sexual violence emerged, with women more likely to know a victim and men more likely to know a perpetrator. In response to a disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, men were more likely to respond in a skeptical manner than women. Positive perceptions of the #MeToo movement translated into more supportive responses to a disclosure. Proximity to a victim of sexual violence did not impact how people responded to a disclosure, but proximity to a perpetrator was associated with a more negative response. Although the aim of this movement is to give a voice to victims of sexual violence, it may trigger a defensive response from men, which makes them more skeptical toward disclosures of victimization.

scholarly journals Factors associated with female students’ past year experience of sexual violence in South African public higher education settings: A cross-sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260886
Author(s):  
Mercilene T. Machisa ◽  
Esnat D. Chirwa ◽  
Pinky Mahlangu ◽  
Yandisa Sikweyiya ◽  
Ncediswa Nunze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
South African ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Vulnerability Factors ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
Risky Sexual Behaviours

Background Intimate partner sexual violence and non-partner rape experiences are widely reported by female students in South African higher education institutions, as they are globally. However, limited research has focused on investigating vulnerability factors, which is vital for informing interventions. Objective To describe the factors and inter-relationships associated with female students’ increased vulnerability to past year experience of partner sexual violence and non-partner rape in South African higher education settings. Methods We interviewed 1293 female students, i.e., 519 students in six Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college campuses and 774 students at three university campuses. Participants were volunteers aged 18–30. The measured vulnerability factors included childhood sexual abuse, other trauma, mental ill-health, risky sexual behaviours, food insecurity, partner violence, and controlling behaviours. We used bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and structural equation modelling methods. Results Twenty percent of participants experienced past-year sexual violence (17% partner sexual violence and 7.5% non-partner rape). Childhood sexual abuse had direct effects on experiencing past year sexual violence and physical, emotional partner violence or controlling behaviours. Risky sexual behaviours mediated the relationships of childhood sexual abuse or harmful alcohol use and past-year sexual violence experience. Mental ill-health mediated the relationships between childhood sexual abuse, other traumatic exposures, food insecurity, physical, emotional partner violence or controlling behaviours, and past-year partner sexual violence or non-partner rape experience. Conclusions Risky sexual behaviours, gender inequitable relationship dynamics, mental ill-health, and food insecurity are related and amenable vulnerability factors associated with female students’ sexual violence experiences. Therefore, addressing these through comprehensive campus interventions, which are implemented when students first enrol in higher education and are most vulnerable to sexual violence, is critical. Society-wide sexual violence prevention is also imperative.

scholarly journals Risk-taking, revictimisation and perpetration of sexual violence in ten southern African countries

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 86-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Risk Behaviour

This paper reports the results of a cross-sectional survey of 11- to 16-year-old school-going youths in ten southern African countries. The survey instrument recorded both the experience of coerced sex and the perpetration of forced sex. There were prominent school and community risk factors for increased risk-taking behaviours, revictimisation and the perpetration of sexual violence. This supports the idea that the local culture can reinforce the antisocial consequences of sexual abuse of boys and girls. There was a suggestion that the school environment can compound the effects of child sexual abuse in terms of conscious knowledge, high-risk behaviour, the risk of revictimisation and disdain for the safety of others.

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