Sexual and relationship dysfunction in sexual offenders

Abstract

Abstract The prevalence of marital/relationship dysfunction and of sexual dysfunction among 74 newly sentenced sexual offenders serving custodial sentences in Northern Ireland prisons was assessed using the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Marital Satisfaction (GRIMS) and the Golombok–Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Relationships between scores on these measures and criminological variables were examined. The study identified a prevalence of 62% for marital/relationship dysfunction among offenders who had a current relationship with an adult female partner and a prevalence of 57% for sexual dysfunction among offenders who had experienced heterosexual intercourse with an adult. The study did not support the view that sexual and relationship problems are more likely to be encountered among offenders against children than among rapists, nor that incest offenders are more likely to have problems in these areas than other offenders against children.