These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 2 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.

Farris, C., Treat, T. A., Viken, R. J., & McFall, R. M. (2008). Sexual coercion and the misperception of sexual intent.  Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 48-66. [Posted August 2008]
 
Key Points:  Misperceptions of sexual intent may lead to sexual coercion.

Summary:  This review article focused on gender differences on the perception of female sexual behaviors and intents, the association between sexual coercion and misperception, situational factors that may increase misperception, and clinical implications.  The study concentrated on sexually coercive behavior, between partners, that is not premeditated but purposeful and on men’s ability to distinguish sexual interest from platonic interest. Men were more likely to perceive more sexual intent in a woman’s behavior but this gender difference may be attributed to a small sub-group of males at high risk for sexual coercion or men more supportive of sex-role stereotypes.  Some situational factors were correlated with an increase in men’s estimates of women’s sexual intent. 

Limitations: It is difficult to assess perception and interpret observed differences in perception.  Most literature assumes that men are prone to perceive sexual intent where it does not exist and that women’s perception of sexual intent of other women is the standard to measure interest. 

Topics: alcohol, male/female relations, myths/stereotypes

Hines, D.  (2007). Predictors of sexual coercion against women and men:  A multilevel, multinational study of university students.  Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36, 403-422. [Posted July 2008]
 
Key Points:  The type of relationship between partners and societal sexual beliefs predicted forced and verbal sexual coercion for both women and men.  

Summary:  This study had several goals: to investigate rates of forced and verbal sexual coercion and sexual revictimization around the world, association between sexual coercion and adversarial sexual beliefs, and association between childhood sexual abuse and current victimization of sexual aggression in both men and women. Information was gathered from the International Dating Violence Study where questionnaires were completed by students in a classroom setting at various universities around the world.  The findings suggest that adversarial beliefs about romantic relationships were associated with sexual coercion for both genders.  The sites with high rates of hostile beliefs about the opposite sex observed a higher number of reports of verbal and forced sexual coercion victimization.    

Limitations:  This was a correlation study based on a sample of college/university women and men.

Topics:  male-female relations, prevention, prevalence, racial/ethnic differences

Katz, J., & Myhr, L. (2008). Perceived conflict patterns and relationship quality associated with verbal sexual coercion by male dating partners. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 798-814.
 
Key Points: Verbal sexual coercion by male partners was found to be positively associated with women’s perceptions of destructive verbal conflict patterns and poor relationship satisfaction and sexual functioning. 

Summary:  This study explored verbal sexual coercion against women by their male sexual partners. Once hundred ninety-three undergraduate women in consensually sexual dating relationships were asked about male partner verbal sexual coercion, conflict behaviors, and relationship quality.  The findings showed an association between women feeling pressured to have sex and their perceptions of psychological abuse and destructive conflict behavior patterns.  In general, women reported less relationship satisfaction and less sexual satisfaction and desire.

Limitations: The sample consisted of primarily Caucasian college-aged women.  Results were based on self-reports and may be subject to response bias.
   
Topics: male-female relations, college

Prospero, M. (2006). The role of perceptions in dating violence among young adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 470-484. [Posted January 2008]

Key Points: Boys were more likely than girls to expect aggressive behavior responses in dating situations even if behavior triggering the aggression was not perceived as inappropriate.

Summary: A group of predominately Hispanic seventh and eighth grade students (n=89) were read four dating scenarios and asked questions about the protagonist’s perception of what the behavior meant and how the protagonist should respond to the behavior. They chose from a set of closed responses which the researchers coded as aggressive or non-aggressive. Although most students thought that the protagonist would not perceive the behavior aggressively (63-76%), most thought that the protagonist should respond aggressively (64-82%). More males than females thought that the response should be aggressive. To develop the dating scenarios and responses, the authors used focus groups made up of youth from the same population as those to whom the survey was given. They recommend use of this method to ensure that interventions target diverse groups appropriately.

Limitations: Participants may have responded with what they thought their peers would believe to be appropriate behaviors, and may not have actually acted that way in a real-life situation. The sample used was taken from one school, and the results may not be generalizable.

Topics: adolescent/high school; male-female relations

Santana, M., Raj, A., Decker, M., La Marche, A., & Silverman, J. (2006). Masculine gender roles associated with increased sexual risk and intimate partner violence perpetration among young adult men. Journal of Urban Health, 83, 575-585. [Posted October 2006]

Key Points: Researchers found that men who believed in traditional male gender roles were more likely to have committed intimate partner violence within the past year than men with less traditional beliefs.

Summary: A group of 283 men, aged 18-35, were recruited at a community health center in Boston. The men were mostly Hispanic (74.9%) and Black (21.9%), and 55% were not born in the continental US. In the previous year, 40% reported committing one or more types of intimate partner violence (IPV): sexual violence (28.3%); physical violence (27.6%); and violence causing injury and/or need for medical services (13.8%). Men who had traditional male gender role beliefs were more likely to have committed intimate partner violence (IPV) within the past year and to have unprotected vaginal sex with a primary partner than men with less traditional beliefs. However, traditional beliefs were not associated with having multiple female partners, forcing unprotected sex, or engaging in unprotected anal sex. Levels of violence were the same regardless of race/ethnicity, country of origin, or acculturation. Only a low level of education (not having a high school diploma or GED) was associated with having traditional beliefs and with committing higher rates of IPV. The results do not imply a cause-and-effect relationship between IPV and traditional beliefs. However, interventions to reduce IPV and sexual risk among young men may be more successful if they promote less traditional gender role beliefs.

Topics: male-female relations; myths/stereotypes; perpetration

Schad, M. M., Szwedo, D. E., Antonishak, J., Hare, A., & Allen, J. P. (2007). The broader context of relational aggression in adolescent romantic relationships: Predictions from peer pressure and links to psychosocial functioning. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 346-358. [Posted January 2008]

Key Points: The qualities of adolescent friendships and peer groups are related to the qualities of their later romantic relationships and higher levels of later depression and alcohol abuse.

Summary: Relational aggression can be defined as an attempt to inflict harm on another person through manipulation or by damaging other social relationships by indirect or covert means (e.g., gossiping, lies, betrayal, isolation). It can occur in peer relationships as well as intimate relationships. This study looked at the association between experiencing relational aggression in best friend relationships and peer groups during adolescence and perpetrating or being a victim of relational aggression in later romantic relationships. Observational and written data was collected from a group of 15-year-olds (n=97) and their best friends; in the second wave of data collection three years later, target youth and their romantic partners completed written questionnaires.
Youth were more likely to exhibit relational aggression in future romantic relationships if their best friends and peer groups used pressuring behaviors. Those who had experienced peer pressure from their social groups were also more likely to report feeling victimized by relational aggression in later romantic relationships. Higher levels of alcohol use and depression were reported among youth in romantic relationships characterized by relational aggression.

Limitations: The study used a small sample, and some of the measurements need to be replicated and validated. The links between peer pressure, relational violence, alcohol use, and depression should be further investigated.

Topics: adolescent/high school; alcohol; male-female relations

Swahn, M.H., Simon, T.R., Arias, I., & Bossarte, R.M.  (in press). Measuring sex differences in violence victimization and perpetration within date and same-sex peer relationships.  Journal of Interpersonal Violence. [Posted July 2008]
 
Key Points:  This study highlights sex differences in the prevalence of physical violence and psychological aggression, victimization, and perpetration within dating and same-sex adolescent relationships.  

Summary: In 2004, 4,131 students from a high-risk school district were assessed on dating and peer physical violence and psychological aggression.  The objective of the study was to determine if boys’ and girls’ experiences of interpersonal violence differ by gender and grade level.  Students completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire that asked about dating and same-sex peer violence victimization that occurred in the past 12 months.  Results showed that several sex differences do occur in victimization and perpetration of physical violence in both relationship contexts. Females reported a higher incidence of reported physical violence perpetration within a dating context and boys reported more physical violence in same-sex peer relationships.  Boys were more likely to inflict injury in both types of relationships.  Experiences of interpersonal violence for boys and girls varied by age.  

Limitations:  The findings of the study were based on students in a high-risk community; indicators of risk include poverty, unemployment, single parent households, and serious crimes. 

Topics:  adolescent/high school, male-female relations, perpetration

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Updated 09/19/08