Student views on campus sexual assault

Abstract

Objective: To report on college student opinions about the scope of college sexual misconduct (CSM), suggested university sanctions, and treatment of students found responsible of CSM.

Participants: In all, 23?US undergraduate students (14 females and 9 males) with a mean age of 20 years.

Methods: Students participated either in female, male, or mixed-sex focus groups that facilitated the discussion of factors related to CSM.

Results: Students provided in-depth feedback on the climate on US college campuses and factors related to CSM. They agreed upon CSM risk factors and context characteristics, but raised different male and female issues across sex groups. They further provided resolute suggestions for the solution of CSM, experienced treatment barriers, and limited victim reporting.

Conclusion: Student focus groups provide important information about the scope of CSM and offer valuable suggestions for the solution of the problem that may be crucial for the development of successful sexual assault interventions.     

Sexual Dysfunction,Paraphilias and their Relationship to Childhood Abuse in Men who have Sex with Men

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine 1) the occurrence of sexual dysfunctions and paraphilias and 2) the relationship between childhood abuse and current sexual disorders in a MSM sample. Participants were MSM in the Midwest who completed baseline surveys prior to attending a sexual health seminar. Most men reported a sexual dysfunction or paraphilia. Thirty-nine percent of the sample reported childhood abuse. Results indicated childhood abuse was associated with a significant increased risk of male erectile disorder (OR = 1.83) and secondary sexual dysfunction (OR = 2.01). The intent of the study was to generate hypotheses to guide future research efforts.     

Capturing Complexity: An Empirical Typology of Nonagentic Sexual Interactions

ABSTRACT

Using cluster analysis and a data set of 227 sexual incidents experienced by college women as unwilled, we articulate and assess the validity of an empirically derived, multivariate typology of “nonagentic sexual interactions.” Five homogeneous clusters, or types, are identified based on four characteristics of the events (physical intrusiveness, force, relationship closeness, and women's alcohol use): (1) Sober Intimate Intrusion; (2) Sober Acquaintance Intrusion; (3) Forced Intrusion; (4) Touch; and (5) Alcohol Impaired Intrusion. Analyses demonstrate the clusters to be significantly associated with contextual and psychological consequence variables, providing validation for the derived typology. Findings indicate that a multidimensional typology of nonagentic sexual interactions shows promise for investigating the implications of these events for women's well-being and sexuality development.     

Masturbation and Sexual Health

Abstract

In this study we applied research examining the hypothesized benefits of masturbation in dealing with sexual problems to the urgent health crisis posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is the first study to test the hypothesized relationship between masturbation and HIV risk as predicted by the Sexual Health Model, a sex-positive approach to sexual health developed in response to the need for a more explicit focus on sexuality and relationships in HIV prevention. This is also the first study to examine the relationship between several masturbation variables (i.e., masturbation guilt, lifetime masturbation, and current masturbation) and HIV-related sexual behaviors and attitudes in a sample of African American women (N =239). Data was collected using face-to-face structured interviews as part of the Women's Initiative for Sexual Health (WISH), a randomized, controlled trial of an HIV prevention intervention based on the Sexual Health Model, targeting low income, adult African American women. Contrary to expectations, results showed that participants who reported masturbating were more likely to report having multiple partners, being in a nonmonogamous relationship and engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors. There was no significant relationship between level of masturbation guilt and HIV risk nor between masturbation and consistent condom use or attitudes toward condoms. This study adds to the growing empirical support for associations between sexual health variables and safer sex and argues for a more explicit focus on sexuality in HIV prevention.     

Attributions of Blame among Victims of Child Sexual Abuse: Findings from a Community Sample

ABSTRACT

According to the attribution theory, negative outcomes of child sexual abuse (CSA) are thought to vary depending on whether CSA victims attribute the abuse to internal or external factors, respectively, self-blame and perpetrator-blame. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify abuse characteristics and attitudes that influence blame attributions among CSA victims from a community sample. Data from respondents with a history of CSA (N = 1,496) have been used in predicting blame attributions; perpetrator-blame, self-blame, or both. Results from a multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that attitudes toward gender roles had a significant effect on blame: victims were more likely to blame themselves when they endorsed more conservative gender attitudes than victims with more liberal attitudes. Implications for this finding are discussed.     

Age Variation in Performance Among Preschool Children in a Sexual Abuse Prevention Program

The purpose of this study was (a) to determine whether preschool age children could be taught sexual abuse prevention skills and concepts, and (b) to determine if any variation in performance exists as a function of the age of the child. Over 1300 preschool children ages 3-to-6-years were pretested and either participated in the prevention program or a control program. Children were posttested on knowledge and skill gains. Children who participated in the prevention program demonstrated greater knowledge of prevention skills and concepts compared to age matched controls. The benefits of participation in prevention program varied across age groups. Multiple comparison of posttest means indicated that trained 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds demonstrated significantly greater knowledge of prevention skills and concepts than 3-year-olds. Trained 6-year-olds demonstrated significantly greater knowledge than trained 4-year-olds. The results indicate that preschool age children can be taught prevention skills and concepts. However, benefit from participation in prevention programs varies with age.     

Treatment of Adult Sexual Offenders: A Therapeutic Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Intervention

SUMMARY

Recent research indicates that, of the various forms of treatment available to sexual offenders, cognitive-behavioural methods are likely to have the greatest impact in reducing rates of sexual re-offending. Cognitive-behavioural treatment typically targets attitudes that support sexual offending, anger management, victim empathy, deviant sexual arousal, and relapse prevention. More recently, treatment has targeted cognitive processes more generally, management of other emotional states in addition to anger, intimacy deficits, and risk self-management (Marshall, Anderson, & Fernandez, 1999; Yates, Goguen, Nicholaichuk, Williams, & Long, 2000). This article describes the components of cognitive-behavioural treatment with sexual offenders, including recent developments, assessment, treatment methods, and the importance of therapist characteristics on the therapeutic process and on treatment outcome.     

Sexual assessment and the epidemiology of AIDS

Research on the transmission dynamics of AIDS necessitates an extraordinarily rigorous sexual science. Thus, the purpose of the present paper is to isolate sexual parameters which are crucial to the epidemiology of AIDS. Several representative mathematical models of the proliferation of HIV are described. From these models, three consistent sexual parameters emerge (sexual orientation, anal intercourse, and selection of sexual partners). Consequently, each parameter is examined for the feasibility of assessment and the reliability of existing data. However, as the present review suggests, the relevant data on sexual parameters are either marginal or nonexistent. Therefore, alternatives are described, and the broader implications of measurement error on epidemiological predictions is developed.     

Prevalence of classes of risk behaviors for HIV infection in a randomly selected Australian population

A random, geographically stratified sample of over 2,600 individuals aged 16 and over was interviewed in all states and territories of Australia to determine the prevalence of classes of behaviors which are associated with HIV infection. Returns from the anonymous risk behavior questionnaire (60.2% return rate) suggested that the prevalence of both male and female homosexual behavior, and contact with prostitutes, was substantially lower than that estimated by Kinsey et al. (1948, 1953). Data suggest that prevalence of classes of behaviors which place Australian individuals at risk of HIV infection may be lower than American estimates. However, the proliferation of HIV into the Australian homosexual community may be more extensive than previously assumed. The implications of these data for HIV preventive education programs and their targeting are discussed.     

Equity vs. Invisibility: Sexual Orientation Issues in Social Work Ethics and Curricula Standards

The responsibility of the social work profession to be inclusive and equitable in its service provision is reviewed via policies relating to professional training regarding sexual orientation issues. A comparative review of Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) and international standards regarding sexual orientation issues in social work codes of ethics and curricula standards was undertaken. A consistency exists in the USA between its ethics code and curriculum standards further backed by a mandated approach, but it is weak in the area of ethically principled practice skills. Both Canada and the UK are less consistent and comprehensive and lack a mandated approach. The results speak to where consistencies exist and where they need to be established in order to develop an infrastructure that properly trains social workers in cultural competency for these populations.