Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration Among Female and Male University Students in Poland

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of victimization and perpetration of sexual aggression since age 15 in a convenience sample of 565 Polish university students (356 females). The prevalence of sexual aggression was investigated for both males and females from the perspectives of both victims and perpetrators in relation to three coercive strategies, three different victim-perpetrator relationships, and four types of sexual acts. We also examined the extent to which alcohol was consumed in the context of sexually aggressive incidents. The overall self-reported victimization rate was 34.3% for females and 28.4% for males. The overall perpetration rate was 11.7% for males and 6.5% for females. The gender difference was significant only for perpetration. Prevalence rates of both victimization and perpetration were higher for people known to each other than for strangers. In the majority of victimization and perpetration incidents, alcohol was consumed by one or both parties involved. The findings are discussed in relation to the international evidence and the need for tailored risk prevention and reduction programs.

Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration among Male and Female College Students in Chile

“…However, the findings are consistent with several recent studies from the cross-cultural literature that also found no or only few gender differences (e.g., Brazil: D'Abreu et al, 2013; U.S.: Hines et al, 2012; Turkey: Schuster et al, 2016; Poland: Tomaszewska and Krahé, 2015) or even higher victimization rates among men compared to women (Krahé et al, 2015), challenging traditional views and stereotypes about sexual aggression victimization. More research is needed to understand social processes, cultural variables, sexuality related cognitions (e.g., sexual scripts, sexual self-esteem) as well as risky sexual behavior which may explain the absence of gender differences in victimization, particularly in the non-Western countries.…”

“…With respect to victim-perpetrator relationship constellations, sexual aggression victimization and perpetration were more common between (ex-)partners and friends/acquaintances than between strangers, which was in line with Hypothesis 3 and past national and international evidence (e.g., Lehrer et al, 2013a; Tomaszewska and Krahé, 2015; Schuster et al, 2016). This indicates that sexual aggression is more prevalent among persons who know each other than between unknown parties, disconfirming stereotyped views on sexual aggression.…”

“…In a recent German study, the overall prevalence of male perpetration was lower, but still substantial with 13.2% (Krahé and Berger, 2013). By comparison, perpetration rates are generally lower for women than for men (e.g., Struckman-Johnson, 1988; D'Abreu et al, 2013; Tomaszewska and Krahé, 2015), but it is clear that sexually aggressive behavior is not limited to males. Comparing prevalence rates of both sexual aggression perpetration and victimization, many studies found a substantial gap, with higher prevalence rates for sexual victimization (Kolivas and Gross, 2007, for a review).…”

From Coercion to Physical Force: Aggressive Strategies Used by Women Against Men in “Forced-to-Penetrate” Cases in the UK

“…These cases have often been excluded from consideration altogether (see, e.g., Anderson & Aymami, 1993), but where they have been considered it has either been alongside an exploration of a range of other non-consensual sexual acts perpetrated by women (see, e.g., Struckman-Johnson & Struckman-Johnson, 1998), in the context of a comparative approach also looking at forced sex experiences of women (Struckman-Johnson, 1988), or in some cases, combinations of the above (see, e.g., Tomaszewska & Krahé, 2018). As such, it is almost impossible to paint any sort of accurate picture around sexually aggressive strategies used by women specifically in FTP cases.…”

Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Associated Factors among Male and Female University Students in 22 Countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas

“…IPV is increasingly becoming a public health problem among young persons and male and female university students [9][10][11] . Among university students in high income countries, e.g., in Finnland 42.0% reported physical violence 12 in Poland 34.3% of females and 28.4% of males reported sexual aggression victimization 13 and in Spain 15.2% of females reported lifetime genderbased violence victimization 14 . Among university students in low-and middle-income countries, e.g., in Chile 31% of women and 21 % of men reported exposure to sexual violence 15 in China the rates of being the victim of physical assault and sexual coercion were 18.0% and 5.1%, respectively 16 in Nigeria (females) 44.1% reported life-time prevalence of IPV 17 46.7% sexual violence 18 and 22.8% and 22.2% of students experienced physical and sexual violence, respectively 19 in Russia 25.5% were the victims of physical partner violence and 24.1% were sexually coerced in the previous year 20 and in Uganda 10%, with no significant gender differences, had exposure to physical partner violence 9 .…”