Sexual Victimization, Fear of Sexual Powerlessness, and Cognitive Emotion Dysregulation as Barriers to Sexual Assertiveness in College Women

Abstract

The current study examined sexual victimization and two barriers to young women's sexual assertiveness: fear of sexual powerlessness and cognitive emotion dysregulation. College women (N = 499) responded to surveys and indicated that fear of sexual powerlessness and, to a lesser extent, cognitive emotion dysregulation were barriers to sexual assertiveness. Compared with nonvictims, sexually victimized women had greater problems with sexual assertiveness, fear of sexual powerlessness, and cognitive emotion dysregulation. Among victims, fear of sexual powerlessness and emotion dysregulation interacted to impede sexual assertiveness. Findings support targeting identified barriers in interventions to improve sexual assertiveness and reduce risk for unwanted sexual experiences and sexual victimization.

Predicting Sexual Assault Revictimization in a Longitudinal Sample of Women Survivors: Variation by Type of Assault

“…For instance, emotion dysregulation both mediates the path from betrayal traumas (such as interpersonal violence) to PTSD and the path from PTSD to substance use and sexual behaviors (Bonn-Miller, Vujanovic, Boden, & Gross, 2011; Goldsmith, Chesney, Heath, & Barlow, 2013; Weiss, Tull, & Gratz, 2014). Also, emotion dysregulation may increase compliance with sexual activity, impulsive behaviors, and maladaptive coping strategies, as well as decrease sexual refusal assertiveness, relationship stability, and the ability to use emotions as information to detect risk (Bonn-Miller et al, 2011; Cloitre & Rosenberg, 2006; Goldsmith et al, 2013; Marx, Heidt, & Gold, 2005; Messman-Moore, Walsh, & DiLillo, 2010; Orcutt et al, 2005; Walsh, DiLillo, & Messman-Moore, 2012;Walsh, Galea, & Koenen, 2012; Weiss et al, 2014; Zerubavel & Messman-Moore, 2013). Revictimized women report higher rates of emotion regulation difficulties (Walsh, DiLillo, & Scalora, 2011), and emotional dysregulation predicts revictimization (Messman-Moore et al, 2010; Messman-Moore, Ward, & Zerubavel, 2013; Messman-Moore, Ward, Zerubavel, Chandley, & Barton, 2015).…”

Alcohol Consumption and Negative Sex-Related Consequences among College Women: The Moderating Role of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies

“…Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that PBS may be most effective at reducing negative consequences for college students with lower levels of selfregulation, as PBS are considered drinking specific self-regulatory behaviors (D'Lima, Pearson, & Kelley, 2012). Closely related to low self-regulation, women with a history of sexual victimization have demonstrated high levels of cognitive emotion dysregulation, which can promote sexual compliance through decreased sexual assertiveness (Zerubavel & Messman-Moore, 2013). Given that PBS appear to be particularly useful for the "impaired" (D'Lima et al, 2012), it seems that college women with a history of sexual victimization may benefit most from the use of PBS.…”

Mediators of Sexual Revictimization Risk in Adult Sexual Assault Victims

“…It is possible that CSA survivors who experience greater emotion dysregulation are more vulnerable to being revictimized, as lack of ability to cope with and/or respond to one’s emotions may impede self-protective behaviors including sexual assertiveness (Zerubavel & Messman-Moore, 2013). CSA is related to immobility or passivity (Gidycz, Van Wynsberghe, & Edwards, 2008; Stoner et al, 2007) and lack of assertiveness (Gidycz et al, 2008; Norris et al, 1996) during later adult assault.…”