Comparative and Combined Associations of Nonconsensual Distribution of Sexually Explicit Materials and Interpersonal Violence on Psychological Distress.

Abstract

Nonconsensual distribution (NCD) of sexual images and videos is prevalent among emerging adults, frequently co-occurs with other types of violence and is associated with psychological distress. Due to its often-public nature, NCD has been theorized to have unique negative psychological effects on survivors. Yet, there is limited research that quantifies the comparative and combined psychological impact of NCD victimization with other forms of interpersonal violence (IPV; e.g., physical, sexual, psychological). Among an undergraduate sample, the present study compared posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms among victims of NCD (n = 224) to a group who experienced past-year IPV, but not NCD (n = 231). As NCD may occur within a broader pattern of violence, NCD victims were also separated into groups of those who experienced a combination of NCD and additional forms of IPV from the same perpetrator ("NCD-combined"; n = 183), and those who experienced only NCD from the perpetrator ("NCD-only"; n = 41), both of whom were compared to past-year IPV-only victims (n = 231). Overall, 20.8% of participants reported NCD victimization, which was more common among women, bi/pansexual individuals, and either white or multiracial individuals. Consistent with hypotheses, NCD victims were over two times as likely to meet criteria for probable PTSD and depression than those who experienced past-year IPV only; further, victims in the NCD-combined group reported significantly higher PTSD and depressive symptoms than IPV-only victims and significantly higher PTSD symptoms than NCD-only victims. In a regression including IPV frequency, NCD remained uniquely associated with total PTSD symptoms, PTSD avoidance and mood/cognition subscales, and depressive symptoms. Implications for future research and practice are provided.