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Cross‐sectional predictors of sexual assault perpetration in a community sample of single African American and Caucasian men
Author(s) -
Abbey Antonia,
Parkhill Michele R.,
BeShears Renee,
ClintonSherrod A. Monique,
Zawacki Tina
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/ab.20107
Subject(s) - sexual coercion , psychology , poison control , sexual assault , sexual abuse , clinical psychology , injury prevention , suicide prevention , juvenile delinquency , demography , developmental psychology , medicine , medical emergency , sociology
Computer‐assisted self‐interviews were completed with a random sample of 163 unmarried Caucasian and African American men in a large metropolitan area. Almost a quarter (24.5%) of these men acknowledged committing an act since the age of 14 that met standard legal definitions of attempted or completed rape; an additional 39% had committed another type of sexual assault involving forced sexual contact or verbal coercion. An expanded version of the Malamuth et al. [1991] confluence model was examined using path analysis. The number of sexual assaults perpetrated by participants was associated with the direct or indirect effects of childhood sexual abuse, adolescent delinquency, alcohol problems, sexual dominance, positive attitudes about casual sexual relationships, and pressure from peers to engage in sexual relationships. Additionally, empathy buffered the relationship between sexual dominance and perpetration. The pattern of results was highly similar for African American and Caucasian men. The implications of these findings for sexual assault measurement are discussed and suggestions are made for alternative treatment programs. Aggr. Behav. 00:1–14, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.