Myths about Sexual Aggression, Sexual Assertiveness and Sexual Violence in Adolescent Romantic Relationships.

Andrés A Fernández-Fuertes,Susana Lázaro-Visa,Noelia Fernández-Rouco,Eva Gómez-Pérez

doi:10.3390/ijerph17238744

Andrés A Fernández-Fuertes, Susana Lázaro-Visa + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238744

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Abstract

Sexual violence is a worldwide health and social issue. However, little is known about the sexual violence that occurs in the context of romantic relationships. This study analyzes the existence of sexual violence in adolescents’ romantic relationships, the possible associations between such violence (both committed and suffered) and myths about sexual aggression and sexual assertiveness, and the possible gender-related distinctions. A sample of 329 students aged between 15 and 19 (M = 16.3; SD = 0.79) was surveyed; all participants were in a romantic relationship when the data were collected. The results reveal that both genders report the existence of sexual violence in their romantic relationships; however, in heterosexual relationships, males were more often the perpetrators of sexual violence. Additionally, myths about sexual aggression and sexual assertiveness were found to be significantly associated with both perpetration and victimization. Accordingly, these predictors should be focal points in prevention programs for adolescent sexual violence. The findings of this study show the de-prioritization of sexuality education in the Spanish educational system, as well as the need to strengthen the competence of adolescents in this area.

Highlights

Human sexuality is rich and diverse because it is not biologically determined; as a result, it is possible to decide when, how and with whom to be intimate, provided that the individuals involved give voluntary and free consent [1]
There are a number of different forms of sexual violence; though it is not the most common form of sexual violence, most studies have focused on the analysis of coital sexual violence [6,7]
The initial study sample consisted of 930 participants from Cantabria (Spain): participants were solicited via nine high schools randomly selected from 20 high schools that had previously signed up to participate in a sexual violence prevention program

Summary

Introduction

Human sexuality is rich and diverse because it is not biologically determined; as a result, it is possible to decide when, how and with whom to be intimate, provided that the individuals involved give voluntary and free consent [1]. Sexual encounters are not always consensual: coercion and sexual violence can have significant repercussions on physical and psychological health, and can even impact the long term ability to form healthy intimate relationships [2,3]. There are different ways in which a person’s sexual freedom can be violated, from the use of physical force or the threat of doing so, to emotional manipulation and alcohol and/or drug incapacitation [5]. A meta-analytic review of the prevalence rates of dating violence among adolescents concluded that approximately 1 in 10 adolescents reported experiencing sexual violence [8]; systematic bias in participants’ self-reports was evident, as was high variability in the rates of dating violence among studies. Most research on sexual violence in adolescent and young adult relationships has been

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