Correlates of Incoming Male College Students’ Proclivity to Perpetrate Sexual Assault

Palmer, Jane E.; McMahon, Sarah; Fissel, Erica R.

doi:10.1177/1077801220905663

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 93 publications

(119 reference statements)

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“…Demographic Variables : Ostensibly, there were demographic similarities between SAs and NSAs, and univariate analyses showed that participants could only be differentiated by their ethnicity, p = .048 (see Supplementary Table S2 for post hoc pairwise comparisons). Given recent contentions that ethnicity may explain sexual aggression through social or cultural norms (see Palmer et al, 2020 ), we decided to include this variable in our logistic regression model.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Sexual Aggression in UK Male University Students: An Empirical Assessment of Prevalence and Psychological Risk Factors

Hales

Gannon

2021

Sex Abuse

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University-based sexual aggression is an international public health issue; however, to date, there have been no formal assessments of the prevalence or psychological indicators associated with the proabuse behaviors of the most common perpetrators at UK universities: heterosexual male students. To facilitate the development of effective primary prevention interventions for domestic students who have sexually harmed, we assess across two empirical studies ( Ns = 259 and 295) the psychological risk factors associated with recent sexual aggression amongst two distinct samples of UK male university students. Cumulatively, results highlighted that one in nine participants (11.4%) self-reported recent sexual aggression. These participants could be statistically differentiated from their non-offending peers on various established indicators of general sexual offending, of which logistic regression analyses highlighted atypical sexual fantasies, general aggression, hostility toward women, and rape myth acceptance as being the most reliable predictors. Our data extend the international evidence base by providing the first detailed overview of sexual aggression amongst UK male university students, as well as the psychological risk factors associated with their proabuse behaviors. We discuss the importance of our findings for the development of more effective evidence-based reduction strategies and primary prevention interventions for male students who have sexually harmed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Sexual Aggression in UK Male University Students: An Empirical Assessment of Prevalence and Psychological Risk Factors

Hales

Gannon

2021

Sex Abuse

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“…While there have been relatively few assessments of sexual aggression perpetration on university campuses, climate survey data have shown that male students commit the majority of offences (Anderson et al, 2021 ; Jones et al, 2020 ). This finding has been validated across several large-scale studies with male students, where approximately one-in-four report a history of sexual perpetration (Anderson et al, 2021 ) and notably more report a proclivity towards harmful sexual activity (e.g., Palmer et al, 2021 ; Wong et al, 2020 ; Zounlome & Wong, 2019 )—a strong indicator of future campus-based sexual offending (e.g., Malamuth et al, 1995 ; Zounlome & Wong, 2019 ). Worryingly, despite recent federal guidelines to make campuses safer, self-reported perpetration rates among male US student samples have increased over the past three decades (Koss et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Empirically Assessing the Effectiveness of the Pathways Programme: An Online Self-Help Intervention for Male Sexual Aggression at UK Universities

Hales,

Rawers,

Gannon

2024

Arch Sex Behav

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Though contemporary evidence suggests that upwards of one-in-nine UK male university students engage in sexually violent behaviors (Hales and Gannon in Sexual Abuse 34:744–770, 2022), few evidence-based primary prevention strategies have been developed to prevent their perpetration. To help contribute to this evidence gap, this study evaluated the short and longer-term effectiveness of a novel psychoeducation-based online self-help intervention for university male sexual aggression called The Pathways Programme. Designed around current empirical understanding of university-based sexual harm in the UK, the program contains six modules that correspond with known risk factors for perpetration. Data were collected as part of a randomized control trial from 254 self-identified heterosexual male students enrolled at a UK university who reported a proclivity towards sexual aggression. Results showed that participants who took part in the program displayed moderate reductions in their self-perceived likelihood of sexual aggression (our primary treatment target) across testing points, as well as reductions in their self-reported levels of hostility towards women, rape myth acceptance, and problematic sexual fantasies (our secondary treatment targets). Control participants also displayed reductions in some domains over time, albeit to a lesser degree. Additional analyses probed the factors associated with participant drop-out, clinical and reliable change, and user feedback. Overall, our study provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy of The Pathways Programme at reducing UK university males’ risk of sexual aggression; however, we caution readers that more robust evaluation is necessary to support intervention rollout. We discuss our findings alongside the limitations of our study and provide suggestions for future research.

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“…Both RMA and rape proclivity have been used as outcomes in rape programs to demonstrate effects of program participation (Anderson & Whiston, 2005; DeGue et al, 2014; De La Rue, Polanin, Espelage, & Pigott, 2014). Several studies have demonstrated an association between RMA and rape proclivity (Bohner, Pina, Viki, & Siebler, 2010; Bohner et al, 2006; Chapleau & Oswald, 2010; Palmer, McMahon, & Fissel, 2020; Süssenbach, Bohner, & Eyssel, 2013). Scholars have hypothesized that rape myths may act as “psychological neutralizers” which allow men to disregard their usual inhibitions against perpetuating sexual violence, increasing their rape proclivity by rationalizing it (Bohner et al, 1998; Burt, 1980).…”

Section: Beliefs Associated With Sexual Violence Perpetration: Rma An...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The longitudinal effects of rape myth beliefs and rape proclivity.

O’Connor¹

2021

Psychology of Men & Masculinities

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Both rape myth acceptance (RMA) and rape proclivity are associated with acts of sexual aggression. Although this relationship is assumed to be unidirectional with RMA contributing to rape proclivity, no studies have examined the possibility of a predictive relationship, with rape proclivity also impacting RMA. This is important to consider in a longitudinal context, as both constructs may increase risk of sexual assault perpetration and support each other over time, further escalating the risk of a sexual assault. Using longitudinal data with a sample of 488 college men, this study used cross-lagged panel analysis to investigate these relationships across 4 time points according to 2 models: autoregressive effects of RMA and rape proclivity, meaning each construct predicts itself over time, and RMA and rape proclivity predicting each other over time. The results of this study indicate that causality exists for RMA and rape proclivity. These findings have implications for prevention efforts directed toward modifying attitudes associated with sexual assault perpetration—particularly for men who are at high risk of perpetrating sexual assault, including those with high rates of RMA and rape proclivity.

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Correlates of Incoming Male College Students’ Proclivity to Perpetrate Sexual Assault

Cited by 14 publications

References 93 publications

Understanding Sexual Aggression in UK Male University Students: An Empirical Assessment of Prevalence and Psychological Risk Factors

Understanding Sexual Aggression in UK Male University Students: An Empirical Assessment of Prevalence and Psychological Risk Factors

Empirically Assessing the Effectiveness of the Pathways Programme: An Online Self-Help Intervention for Male Sexual Aggression at UK Universities

The longitudinal effects of rape myth beliefs and rape proclivity.

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