Current research examining sexual aggression against males is rare and representative studies often do not sufficiently differentiate between male and female affected persons, male and female ...offending person, as well as between different types of sexual aggression.
We investigated the prevalence of sexual aggression against males perpetrated by males and females distinguished by the type of sexual aggression and examined differences between sexual aggression against males committed by males and females in characteristics of the sexual aggression.
We examined representative self-report data collected in the German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD; n = 4,955). A total of 305 male participants (12.3 % of all male participants) experienced at least one incident of sexual aggression.
We investigated differences between characteristics of male- and female-perpetrated sexual aggression against males in cases of (1) sexual aggression against minors by adults, (2) sexual aggression among minors/peers, and (3) sexual aggression among adults. Characteristics of sexual aggression included were frequency, relation of accused person, disclosure, participant’s age at first incident, and accused person’s age at first incident.
Our results revealed that the proportion of sexual aggression by females against males is rather low in cases of sexual aggression against minors by adults (9 %) compared with sexual aggression among minors/peers (56 %) and among adults (52 %). Although the majority of characteristics of sexual aggression were similar, some differences between male- and female-perpetrated sexual aggression were found.
Sexual aggression against males appears to be an under-researched phenomenon, especially when it is perpetrated by a female person. More research on sexual aggression against males as well as on the differences between male- and female-perpetrated sexual aggression is therefore considered necessary.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This paper uses data from the American Voices Project, an interview study based on a random population sample, to explore the relationship between assault experiences and how people narrate their ...lives. Using quantitative sentiment analysis, we find that survivors of assault express significantly greater negative sentiment when asked to tell their life stories. These negative sentiments are observable throughout the entire interview, including before questions of assault are asked. Survivors of assault narrate their experiences with more anger, disgust, fear, and sadness, and less anticipation, joy, and trust than those who do not report assault experiences. We provide evidence that the negative sentiment associated with sexual violence is greater than having lost a parent and less than having experienced a significant financial hardship within the last month. We contextualize these findings with a qualitative evaluation of the interview transcripts, further substantiating our finding. Overall, this paper suggests that sexual violence is part of what we have called, drawing inspiration from the work of Beth Richie, a "matrix of harm" that structures people's lives. While our finding is consistent with what we might expect given the negative life experiences and sequalae associated with sexual assault, it has important implications. Sentimental differences in narrating life experience are an important yet relatively understudied phenomenon, and experiences of assault are rarely asked about yet may be consequential to both quantitative and qualitative accounts of social processes.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sibling sexual abuse (SSA) is a continuum of childhood sexual behaviors that do not fit the category of age-appropriate curiosity. Although SSA may be the most prevalent and longest lasting form of ...intrafamilial sexual abuse—as well as the one with the worst repercussions—it is also the least reported, studied, and treated. Based on 100 mostly religious Jewish families referred to a child advocacy center (CAC) in Jerusalem from 2010 to 2015, this qualitative study examines SSA characteristics, dynamics, and perceptions of deviancy in multisibling subsystems. The findings are based on an analysis of case summaries, demographic charts, and documented conversations between social workers and siblings. Qualitative document analysis reveals two types of SSA dynamics: “identified perpetrator” and “routine relationship,” the latter being a particularly understudied dynamic that challenges common stereotypes. We also found sibling perceptions of deviancy to vary along a continuum from deviant to completely normative. These perceptions are affected by the type of dynamics as well as by factors associated with disclosure. Our findings highlight the importance of studying the lived experiences of children involved in SSA as an input with critical policy, treatment, and research implications. Interventions must be adjusted to the family system and sibling subsystem’s perceptions and needs to avoid treatment that exacerbates the crisis already experienced by the family. Common assumptions—there must be a “perpetrator”; abuse is necessarily traumatic; and treatment should focus on the trauma—are challenged by the routine type. We conclude that treatment should account for the complexity of SSA by shedding these assumptions and considering the sibling subsystem as an autonomous unit within the large family.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Suicidal behaviours are one of the most important contributors to the global burden of disease among women, but little is known about prevalence and modifiable risk factors in low and middle income ...countries. We use data from the WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women to examine the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts, and relationships between suicide attempts and mental health status, child sexual abuse, partner violence and other variables. Population representative cross-sectional household surveys were conducted from 2000–2003 in 13 provincial (more rural) and city (urban) sites in Brazil, Ethiopia, Japan, Namibia, Peru, Samoa, Serbia, Thailand and Tanzania. 20967 women aged 15–49 years participated. Prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts, lifetime suicidal thoughts, and suicidal thoughts in the past four weeks were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression models were fit to examine factors associated with suicide attempts in each site. Prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts ranged from 0.8% (Tanzania) to 12.0% (Peru city); lifetime thoughts of suicide from 7.2% (Tanzania province) to 29.0% (Peru province), and thoughts in the past four weeks from 1.9% (Serbia) to 13.6% (Peru province). 25–50% of women with suicidal thoughts in the past four weeks had also visited a health worker in that time. The most consistent risk factors for suicide attempts after adjusting for probable common mental health disorders were: intimate partner violence, non-partner physical violence, ever being divorced, separated or widowed, childhood sexual abuse and having a mother who had experienced intimate partner violence. Mental health policies and services must recognise the consistent relationship between violence and suicidality in women in low and middle income countries. Training health sector workers to recognize and respond to the consequences of violence may substantially reduce the health burden associated with suicidal behaviour.
► We present data on prevalence and predictors of suicidal behaviour among women from 13 low and middle income settings. ► Prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts ranged from 0.8 to 12.0%. ► Experience of violence predicted suicide attempts across settings, even after accounting for common mental disorders.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Child sexual abuse (CSA) has received considerable attention from scholars, contributing to policy, intervention, and prevention efforts worldwide. However, survivors’ involvement in this research is ...limited. This study was designed to delve into the messages of adult CSA survivors to abused children. In all, 371 written testimonies were provided to the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry on CSA by survivors from diverse communities in Israel. The Inquiry aimed to promote change in policies related to CSA. The testimonies were analyzed using the qualitative thematic analysis method. The results revealed five main messages emphasized by survivors to children experiencing CSA: (a) transferring the responsibility and guilt from children to perpetrators and society; (b) turning toward the light and continuing on; (c) disclosure is essential; (d) a happy life is possible; and (e) together we can survive. The discussion emphasizes how various systems in survivors’ lives have profound impacts following the abuse. Although survivors were from diverse backgrounds, their messages to abused children were consistent. Through their messages to the children, the survivors emphasized their wish to transfer responsibility and guilt from children experiencing abuse to the society that is supposed to see, listen, protect, and validate. Implications for practice are discussed, focusing on the importance of making room for survivors’ voices and experiences in the processes of shaping policies in the area of CSA. Moreover, the survivors’ desire to be there for the children emphasized the urgent need to promote the perception of survivors as key stakeholders in the field of child abuse and to integrate their experiences and perceptions into the formal and informal systems for children.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
BackgroundA large proportion of patients with eating disorders (ED) report experiences of childhood trauma. Latent trajectory analysis in ED samples reveals the complexities in course and outcome and ...can explore the long‐term impact of adverse experiences in childhood.MethodA total of 84 patients with longstanding ED were included. ED symptoms were assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination interview at discharge from inpatient treatment, and at 1‐, 2‐, 5‐, and 17‐year follow‐up, respectively. Change over time was examined using growth mixture modeling, allowing the number of trajectories to emerge through the data. Prevalence of childhood trauma was assessed, and its relation to class membership was tested.ResultsWe identified four distinct classes: patients with (a) a continuous improvement in the entire follow‐up period, and scores within normal range at the end, “continuous improvement” (54.8%); (b) a high symptom level at baseline and moderate decrease over time, “high and declining” (22.6%); (c) initial ED scores below clinical cut‐off and stable symptoms throughout the course, “consistently low” (14.3%); and (d) with high scores initially, and a significant increase in symptoms over time, “high and increasing” (8.3%). A history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was overrepresented in classes with persistently high symptom levels and poor long‐term outcomeDiscussionPatients with longstanding ED displayed considerable diversity in trajectories of symptom change across 17 years. To improve long‐term outcome, enhanced treatment of sequelae from CSA seems essential.Public SignificancePatients with longstanding eating disorders displayed four different trajectories of change in a 17‐year follow‐up study. Although there were significant changes over time, the majority of patients remained within similar symptom levels as they presented with at discharge from inpatient treatment. Exposure to childhood maltreatment was common within the sample. Childhood sexual abuse predicted poor long‐term outcome, which highlights the importance of trauma informed care.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Social media is providing new avenues for survivors to disclose sexual abuse and/or assault. Since the creation of #MeToo (2017), and the larger MeToo movement founded by American activist Tarana ...Burke in 2006, millions are disclosing sexual assaults and past childhood sexual abuse on-line.
Social media for disclosing the highly stigmatized problem of sexual abuse/assault was studied to build knowledge about on-line disclosures.
Participants and Setting: Participants were tweeters and posters on Twitter and Reddit. Purposive sampling captured on-line sexual abuse/assault disclosures from September 28, 2018 to October 16, 2018 for thematic analysis.
Using a phenomenological design 171 social media posts were analyzed for deeper understanding into new options for disclosing sexual abuse and/or sexual assault. Posts were independently coded by the authors. Sampling was stopped when categorical saturation was reached with no new information coming forward on the research question.
Themes that emerged showed the MeToo/#MeToo movement is precipitating sexual abuse/assault disclosures on social media in unprecedented ways; posters identified internal barriers, mixed responses from family, and friends/peers, as well as variable responses from professionals. While some conditions for sexual abuse/assault disclosures have improved, barriers still exist.
Social media represents an environmental shift for disclosing sexual violence. Sexual abuse/assault survivors have found voice through social media after periods of silence and being silenced, turning to posting on-line when people and systems have failed to validate and support them. Further investigation is needed on the impacts of on-line sexual abuse and/or assault disclosures.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
