Journal of Interpersonal Violence最新文献

Research on sexual assault has shown that victim, perpetrator, and participant characteristics can influence evaluations of an assault. However, the studies have not examined a possible main effect or interactions from respectively introducing the victim or perpetrator first in an assault description, and previous studies have used participant samples with little diversity. We conducted two studies with factorial between-groups designs that varied presentation order in addition to victim and perpetrator stereotypicality and then assessed the impacts on participants' judgments of sexual assault scenarios. We used the online marketplace Prolific to collect large, diverse samples of participants, and in the second study, we collected roughly equal sample sizes of individuals who identified as Black females/males and White females/males. Our results indicate that multiple factors-including victim and perpetrator stereotypicality, presentation order, and participants' gender identities-significantly influenced judgments of the sexual assault, and there were numerous interactions. The results provide strongest support for a spreading activation model in which each factor can influence a participant's judgment of the other factors and the overall scenario. As such, the findings may bear on the legal handling of sexual assault cases as well as suggesting how different presentation formats and emphases in media coverage may sway the court of public opinion.

Emerging research suggests that reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA), like intimate partner violence (IPV), is associated with poorer mental and sexual health outcomes, including greater symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression and poorer markers of physical and sexual health such as sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and lowered sexual agency. Although victims/survivors of RCA report long-lasting impacts on future relationships, including fear and anxiety, little is known about impacts of RCA on anxiety and general wellbeing, nor emotional and mental components of sexual health that comprise a person's sexual self-concept. With community samples of participants in Australia, we conducted two studies to explore the impact of RCA and IPV on psychological (study 1) and sexual (study 2) health outcomes. Study 1 (n = 368) found that experiencing IPV and RCA both significantly and uniquely contributed to poorer mental health outcomes. After controlling for age and IPV, RCA significantly predicted symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, PTSD, and reduced satisfaction with life. Study 2 (n = 329) found that IPV and RCA differentially predicted various components of sexual health. IPV predicted decreased sexual satisfaction and increased sexual anxiety, depression, and fear of sexual encounters. After controlling for age and IPV, RCA significantly and uniquely predicted lower levels of sexual assertiveness and increased sexual depression and fear of sexual encounters, but not sexual satisfaction or anxiety. We conclude that RCA is associated with significant psychological distress and a negative sexual self-concept that may impact future relationships. Screening for both IPV and RCA across settings is warranted.

The current study sought to examine attachment styles as mediators between intimate partner violence (IPV) and stress coping styles among Iranian women. Data were collected from September to December 2020. The study population was composed of 102 women who were referred to Social Emergency Centers in Isfahan and affected by domestic violence. They were given self-report questionnaires to measure IPV (the Haj-Yahia Violence Questionnaire), Stress Coping Styles (CISS), and Attachment Styles (AAQ). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Sexual IPV victimization was related to both avoidant attachment (β = .229, p = .015) and anxious attachment (β = .245, p = .008). Anxious attachment style was related to emotion-oriented coping (β = .437, p = .000). There was a negative relationship between avoidant attachment and anxious attachment (β = -.237, p = .032) with avoidance-oriented coping. Sexual IPV victimization and economic IPV victimization were associated with avoidance-oriented coping (β = -.225, t = 0.816, p = .015; β = .188, t = 0.816, p = .044). Women who had experienced IPV and had an insecure attachment style were more likely to utilize avoidance and emotional coping strategies. For women who had a secure attachment style, there was no association was found between IPV victimization and coping styles. Attachment styles may influence the relationship between IPV and coping strategies in Iranian women who have experienced violence.

Sexual dysfunctions (SDs) have been noted to occur following exposure to sexual violence although how these conditions covary with other mental health conditions, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS), is relatively understudied. The current study examined patterns of co-occurring SDs and PTSS in a sample of 328 college-aged, female-identified survivors of adolescent/early adulthood sexual assault (ASA). Latent profile analysis was used to examine patterns of symptom endorsement of various types of SDs and PTSS at the symptom cluster level. Four profiles were identified: asymptomatic (41.2% of sample), sexually distressed + intrusions (24.7%), co-occurring (21%), and PTSS (13.1%). Profiles were compared to one another on various characteristics of sexual assault and social reactions from others following assault disclosure. Results indicated that those in the co-occurring symptom and PTSS profiles reported more severe ASA and more unsupportive social responses relative to the sexually distressed + intrusions and asymptomatic profiles. The asymptomatic profile was significantly less likely to have experienced rape relative to the other three profiles and was less likely to report instances where a close other treated them in a negative manner following assault disclosure. Results are discussed in light of mental health needs for young women who have experienced ASA, with implications discussed for future research and clinical services for university students.

Indian women account for 36.6% of suicide-related deaths worldwide and gender-based violence (GBV) is a key social determinant. The cultural theory of suicide (CTS), which synthesizes risk factors and explanations of suicide among racial/ethnic minorities, posits four tenets: idioms of distress, cultural sanctions, and social discord. Our study applied the CTS to Indian women from slums reporting GBV to explore (1) culturally relevant risk pathways towards suicidal ideation using qualitative analyses, and test (2) the association between idioms of distress and suicidal ideation. 112 women from urban slums were recruited and 99 completed surveys. A subset were administered qualitative interviews. Aim 1 explored the CTS framework among participants describing suicidal ideation in qualitative interviews [n = 18]; Aim 2 explored if idioms of distress severity was associated with suicidal ideation through an ANCOVA [N = 99]. Idioms of distress such as 'tension' indicated suicidal ideation. Communities did not sanction suicidal ideation, leading to secrecy regarding disclosure. Women in 'love marriages' (versus arranged marriages) reported minority stress. Social discord heightened suicidal thoughts. Results of the ANCOVA confirmed that women reporting suicidal ideation had higher idioms of distress severity (M = 28.56, SD = 6.37), compared to women who did not (M = 21.77, SD = 6.07), F(1, 96) = 28.58, p < .001 (η_p² = .23). Our study empirically validates the CTS among Indian GBV survivors. Culturally responsive suicide prevention can include assessing idioms of distress, improving family support, and educating to reduce stigma and enhance help-seeking.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global public health problem. Conceptual frameworks suggest misperceived norms around IPV might drive perpetration of violence against women in southern and eastern Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based survey of all men residing in a rural parish in southwest Uganda, eliciting their endorsement of IPV in five hypothetical scenarios and their reported frequency of perpetration of violence against their wife/main partner. They also reported their perceptions about the extent to which most other men in their villages endorsed and/or perpetrated IPV, which we compared against the population data to measure the primary explanatory variable of interest: whether individuals misperceived norms around IPV. We fitted multivariable Poisson regression models specifying personal IPV endorsement and IPV perpetration as the outcomes. Overall, 765 men participated in the study (90% response rate): 182 (24%) personally endorsed IPV, and 78 of 456 partnered men (17%) reported perpetrating one or more acts of IPV at least once per month. Although most men neither endorsed nor reported perpetrating IPV, 342 (45%) men mistakenly thought that most other men in their villages endorsed IPV and 365 (48%) men mistakenly thought that most other men perpetrate IPV at least monthly. In multivariable regression models, men who misperceived most men to endorse IPV were more likely to endorse IPV themselves (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 2.44; 95% CI [1.66, 3.59]; p < .001). Among partnered men, those who misperceived IPV perpetration to be normative were more likely to perpetrate IPV themselves (aRR = 4.38; [2.53, 7.59]; p < .001). Interventions to correct misperceived norms about IPV may be a promising method for reducing violence against women in rural Uganda.

Sexual minority (e.g., gay/lesbian, bisexual, and queer) students are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience sexual violence (SV) during college. Interventions that prevent SV and improve SV care-seeking behaviors for sexual minority students are lacking. Giving Information for Trauma Support and Safety (GIFTSS) is an evidence-based universal SV intervention implemented by providers during college health and counseling visits. Compared to controls, GIFTSS participants reported greater self-efficacy to use SV harm reduction strategies and SV disclosure during clinical visits. However, GIFTSS' effectiveness for sexual minority participants is unknown. The current study examines whether sexual orientation moderates GIFTSS' effects on numerous SV-related outcomes (i.e., to test whether intervention effects at 4 and 12 months differed based on sexual orientation). Across 28 college campuses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 2,291 students participated in a two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial. We used mixed models with two- and three-way interaction terms to test whether sexual orientation modified GIFTSS' effects at 4- and 12-month follow-up on participants': SV recognition; knowledge of and self-efficacy to enact SV harm reduction strategies; intentions to intervene; knowledge of and self-efficacy to use SV-related services; SV disclosure during visits; and recent SV exposure. Overall, 22.1% of participants were sexual minorities (n = 507). Sexual orientation moderated GIFTSS effectiveness as indicated by significant three-way interaction (p = .01) at 12-month follow-up, and knowledge of SV services decreased for heterosexual participants (β = -.23) but increased for sexual minority participants (β = .23). Our study indicates that universal provider-based education may promote greater knowledge of SV services among sexual minority than heterosexual participants, and population-specific interventions are needed that reduce sexual minority students' SV exposure, service utilization, and other critical aspects of SV prevention on university campuses.Clinical Trial Registration: Registry name: College Health Center-based Alcohol and Sexual Violence Intervention (GIFTSS), Registration number: NCT02355470, Web link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02355470, Deidentified individual participant data will not be made available.

We sought to test the effects of sexual assault form and complainant/defendant gender on jurors' perceptions of the prototypicality of a sexual assault case, complainant, and defendant. We examined whether these perceived prototypicality measures predict mock jurors' complainant/defendant blame and credibility assessments and if these assessments predict verdict decisions in a simulated sexual assault trial. We predicted that the female complainant-male defendant condition, vaginal intercourse condition, and their combination would be perceived as more prototypical than their counterparts, which would predict blame/credibility assessments, ultimately predicting verdict. Mock jurors (N = 437) recruited via Prolific Academic read a trial transcript involving an alleged sexual assault (oral or vaginal sex forced onto the complainant) with a female complainant-male defendant or a male complainant-female defendant. They provided a verdict and assessed the perceived prototypicality of the case/complainant/defendant, provided blame/credibility assessments for the complainant/defendant, and responded to rape myth questionnaires. Sexual assault form did not significantly affect any of our outcomes. Mock jurors perceived the male complainant-female defendant condition as less prototypical of a sexual assault case/complainant/defendant than the female complainant-male defendant condition, resulting in negative evaluations of the complainant, favorable evaluations of the defendant, and lowered probability of conviction. Simultaneously, for fixed levels of prototypicality, the female complainant received more negative evaluations, and the male defendant received more favorable evaluations, which lowered the probability of conviction; mock jurors' rape myth acceptance moderated this effect. Rape myths were predictive of decision-making in cases involving a female complainant, and male rape myths were predictive in cases involving a male complainant. Results demonstrate that prototypicality is a mechanism behind mock jurors' decisions in sexual assault trials and elucidate the distinctive role of prototypes and rape myths on juror decision-making, with practical implications for the field of psychology and the criminal legal system.

Institutional betrayal (IB) is well-documented among survivors of gender-based violence seeking help and/or reporting incidents of violence in various settings, including college campuses and health care settings. Two of the most common institutions from which survivors seek help are the criminal and civil legal systems; however, less is known about the experiences of IB among survivors interfacing with those systems. Previous studies exploring IB have implemented the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire (IBQ) and its various adaptations, but this scale has not yet been analyzed in the criminal or civil legal context, nor has it been analyzed among racially marginalized survivors. This paper explores the potential for utilizing the IBQ-Health among a sample of 199 Black and Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who sought help from the criminal and/or civil legal system(s). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to explore the fit of the measure to the data. Results suggest that the measure as it has previously been used does not demonstrate strong reliability or fit with this population or institution. Possible explanations and future directions are explored, including support for developing and piloting a new measure to assess IB among Black and Hispanic survivors of interpersonal violence who are seeking help from criminal and civil legal institutions.

This research reports findings from a study to explore the efficacy of a video-based training with college students to determine the extent to which the training shifted student perceptions of hazing, increased willingness and ability to intervene in situations where hazing is occurring, and altered student perceptions of hazing social norms. The study included two experimental groups and a control group at each of the three data-gathering sessions at three U.S. universities. Each of the universities belonged to the Hazing Prevention Consortium and had demonstrated a willingness to prevent hazing on their campuses. The 17-minute hazing prevention documentary We Don't Haze, developed using a bystander intervention framework, was administered in two experimental conditions: video-only and video plus facilitated discussion. Participants (n = 318) were members of a leadership development program, resident advisors, and club sport athletes and were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups or the control group. Students who viewed the video-based training and students who viewed the video and engaged in a follow-up facilitated discussion significantly shifted their perceptions of hazing and indicated an increased willingness and ability to intervene and help others who are experiencing or have experienced hazing, compared to students who viewed a general leadership video. The results of this study indicate that the tested hazing prevention trainings-both the stand-alone video, We Don't Haze, and the video plus discussion-hold promise for strengthening knowledge of the full range of harm associated with hazing, while amplifying perceptions that support hazing prevention and diminishing perceptions that contribute to normalizing hazing.