The relationship between risk factors, protective factors and women’s use of sexual coercion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Researchers have found that both women and men engage in verbal and physical sexually coercive behaviours (Black et al. [2011]. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 summary report. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Bouffard et al. [2016]. Examining the correlates of women’s use of sexual coercion: Proposing an explanatory model. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(13), 2360–2382. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515575609). Risk factors such as rape myth acceptance and prior victimisation related to sexual coercion have been identified however, no research has examined how potential protective factors may impact engaging in this kind of behaviour. The current study examined how risk and protective factors related to the incidence of sexual coercion among a sample of 713 college women from a southern university. The results of the study supported previous findings on risk factors such as higher rape myth acceptance, having experienced prior sexual victimisation, and having a lower belief in the law, were significantly related to engaging in sexual coercion for the women in this sample. Findings indicated several protective factors were significantly related to lower chances of having engaged in sexual coercion, such as increased ability to control thoughts and behaviour and having positive social support. The significance of these findings and implications are discussed. Practice impact statement: This article can assist educators and professionals with developing sexual assault prevention programmes by explaining what factors are significant to college-aged women’s willingness to engage in coercive behaviour.