scholarly journals Silencing by design: Lessons learned about child sexual abuse from a university sexual assault survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 174550652110170
Author(s):  
Marika Guggisberg ◽  
Hillary J Haldane ◽  
Vicki Lowik ◽  
Annabel Taylor ◽  
Bethany Mackay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Prepubescent Child ◽  
The Impact

Background: University students have been recognized as particularly being vulnerable to sexual victimization. Purpose: With little research to date, and acknowledgement for the need of a better understanding of sexual violence, our study analysed the CQUniversity Sexual Assault Survey’s qualitative responses. An open-ended qualitative question allowed students to provide information anonymously. Methods: A total of 109 participants contributed responses with 17 respondents commenting on the fact that the survey omitted to ask about child sexual abuse prior to the cut-off age of 12 years. Results: University students revealed unexpected disclosures of prepubescent child sexual abuse victimization and ongoing sexual victimization into adulthood. Furthermore, students’ comments indicated negative impacts including distress, mental health and substance use problems, distrust, and interpersonal difficulties. Strong feelings about ‘silencing’ prepubescent child sexual abuse in university surveys were expressed with a request that questions about child sexual abuse prior to the age of 12 years be included. Conclusion: Our study found that child sexual abuse victimization is important to students. Recommendations indicate the need for future research about sexual violence among university students without age restrictions to gain a better understanding about the impact of trauma including revictimization experiences.

Cumulative trauma: The impact of child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, and spouse abuse

1996 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria M. Follette ◽  
Melissa A. Polusny ◽  
Anne E. Bechtle ◽  
Amy E. Naugle
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Spouse Abuse ◽  
Cumulative Trauma ◽  
Adult Sexual Assault ◽  
The Impact

The Links Between Religiosity, Childhood Sexual Abuse, and Subsequent Marijuana Use

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 937-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris C. Chu
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Marijuana Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Impact

A number of studies indicate that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has a negative impact on later psychological well-being. It is well documented that experiences of CSA are associated with depression, self-destructiveness, and subsequent substance abuse or alcohol consumption. Compared with women who experienced no such sexual abuse in childhood, women who were victims of sexual abuse in childhood were more likely to be depressed and use drugs or consume alcohol in later life. Analyzing data of 1,569 females derived from the “Longitudinal Study of Violence Against Women,” this study examines whether the strain caused by sexual victimization leads to a higher level of subsequent marijuana use and whether religiosity moderates the negative effects of CSA. It was found that CSA was associated with an increased level of marijuana use in high school. However, more proximate sexual victimization (victimization in college) seemed to override the impact of CSA on subsequent marijuana use. Religiosity was found to moderate the effect of CSA on marijuana use in high school. Religiosity was negatively associated with marijuana use in high school as well as the second and fourth collegiate years. Policy implications and promising directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Adult-as-schoolgirl sexual fantasies: Investigating their relationship with sexual interest in children within a male sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Henek ◽  
Ross M. Bartels
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Interest ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Fantasies ◽  
Causal Direction ◽  
School Uniform ◽  
Act Up ◽  
The Impact

Theory and research indicates that sexual fantasies about children are associated with child sexual abuse and the proclivity to engage in child sexual abuse. The present study aimed to add to the literature by examining whether sexual fantasies depicting an adult partner dressed in school uniform are related to a self-reported sexual interest/proclivity towards child sexual abuse. We also investigated whether Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasies are related to other factors underlying the reason for finding children sexually appealing (e.g. lower self-esteem, the need for sexual dominance, and innocence-related fantasies). The measures assessing each variable were completed in randomized order by 87 community males recruited online (after data cleaning). The results showed significant correlations between Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasies and the interest in/proclivity to sexually offend against children, as well as sexual fantasies about innocence in general. A direct multiple regression revealed that these two variables statistically predicted Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasy scores. The present study provides the first indication that Adult-as-Schoolgirl fantasies are linked to the self-reported interest and proclivity in sexually abusing children. Given the correlational nature of these findings, the causal direction cannot be determined. Moreover, the results do not indicate that people with Adult-as-Schoolgirl fantasies will act up these fantasies with a real child. Nevertheless, the findings suggest the need to address the sexualization of schoolgirl uniforms in popular media. Future research should aim to uncover the impact that Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasies have on actual behavior.

Sexual violence, coping, and empowerment among Latina sexual assault survivors

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Danielle Quintero Orosco
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Latina Women ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latina Survivors ◽  
Assault Survivors

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Rates of sexual violence are as high as approximately 1 in 3 (34.8%) for Latina women (Basile et al., 2015) and little information is known regarding coping strategies Latina survivors utilize post sexual assault. A qualitative case study approach was utilized to explore the relationships between sexual assault, coping, and resiliency and the impact these have on Latina survivors' sense of empowerment. The results of this study found that Latina women utilized adaptive coping skills that were significantly influenced by their culture as well as their ethnic and gender identity. Participants also developed a strong sense of empowerment by providing service to other survivors through multiple forms of advocacy and by finding meaning or a higher calling within their sexual assault experience. Participants also described empowerment as having emerged from identifying their recovery as a journey and through empathic views and feelings towards themselves and others. Overall, the results of this study showed that the intersection of culture, ethnicity, and gender permeated through all facets of their recovery and sense of empowerment. This study also provides implications for future research and practice in the psychological field with regard to working with and supporting Latina sexual assault survivors.

Women’s Self-Report of Sexual Victimization: An Experimental Examination of the Influence of Race, Mode of Inquiry, Setting, and Researcher Contact

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 850-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan B. McCallum ◽  
Zoë D. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Female College Students ◽  
Experimental Examination ◽  
Adult Sexual Assault ◽  
Pencil And Paper ◽  
The Impact

Female college students ( N = 255) provided self-report of adult sexual assault (ASA) and child sexual abuse (CSA) in one of eight randomly assigned conditions which manipulated three methodological variables (level of researcher contact, setting, and inquiry mode). The impact of methodology on reporting was examined, with race as a moderator. Non-White participants reported significantly more CSA than White participants out of lab, but differences were not observed in lab. White participants reported significantly more ASA than non-White participants on pencil-and-paper surveys, but there were no differences on computer surveys. Interpretation of race-related differences in self-reported victimization may require consideration of methodological effects.

Sexual Victimization and Mental Health in Female University Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110051
Author(s):  
Vanessa Blanco ◽  
Lara López ◽  
Patricia Otero ◽  
Ángela J. Torres ◽  
María José Ferraces ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Sexual Contact ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Unwanted Sexual Contact

Although sexual assaults on female university students are a public health concern, studies that have examined this issue have not used behaviorally specific definitions of the various types of sexual victimization. Furthermore, hardly any data exists on female Spanish university students. The objectives of this study were to analyze the prevalence of different forms of sexual assault against female Spanish university students, determine the risk factors associated with sexual assault, analyze the association between sexual victimization and mental health problems, and determine the differential risk of more serious types of sexual assault. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of 871 students from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) (mean age 20.7 years, SD = 2.8). The current study assessed various types of sexual violence (i.e., unwanted sexual contact, attempted coercion, coercion, attempted rape, rape), as well as rates of depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide risk, and suicide attempts. Of the female students surveyed, 28.5% had suffered some form of sexual violence during the previous year, 22.3% reported unwanted sexual contact, 8.8% attempted coercion, 6.5% coercion, 10.4% attempted rape, and 7.9% had been raped. Lower risk was associated with having a partner and being heterosexual. Being 18 years of age and prior experiences of sexual victimization were associated with higher risk. Being the victim of attempted coercion was associated with a higher risk of depression, while victims of attempted rape were at higher risk for substance use. Rape victims were at the highest risk for all mental health conditions studied, with the exception of suicide attempts. Due to the high rates at which Spanish female university students experience sexual violence, planning and resources are needed to address their mental health needs, especially those who are victims of rape.

scholarly journals The Role of Dopamine Receptor D2 in Bridging the Intention-Behavior Gap in Sport Participation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2379
Author(s):  
Seiyeong Park ◽  
Junhye Kwon ◽  
Chiyoung Ahn ◽  
Hae-Sung Cho ◽  
Hyo Youl Moon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Dopamine Receptor ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Behavioral Model ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dopamine Receptor D2 ◽  
The Impact

Previous studies have identified that a behavior can occur through the strongest predictor intention, but there is a gap between intention and behavior. Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) is known to account for a variance in sporting behaviors in human and animal subjects. However, the relationship between DRD2 and sport participation has been poorly studied, and the limited available reports are inconsistent. The present study was performed to examine the impact of DRD2 on sport participation among Korean university students based on the integrated behavioral model (IBM). Data were collected from enrolled university students in Seoul (N = 45). Participants answered survey questions first, and then they gave investigators their hair to provide DNA information (i.e., the A1 allele of DRD2). DRD2 had a significant effect on sport participation, but only in male students. Male students who carried the A1 allele of DRD2 significantly participated in 105.10 min more sporting activities than male students who did not. Moreover, the effect of intention on sport participation was significantly decreased when considering DRD2. Despite the small sample size, the results of this study could be a preliminary case for a larger study and indicate the direction of future research. Our results suggest that DRD2 may have played an important role as the “actual skill” shown in the IBM.

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