TY - JOUR A1 - Marchewka, Juliette A1 - Tomaszewska, Paulina A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Krahé, Barbara T1 - Unacknowledged and missed cases of sexual victimization BT - a comparison of responses to broad versus behaviorally specific questions JF - Aggressive behavior : a multidisciplinary journal devoted to the experimental and observational analysis of conflict in humans and animals N2 - From the beginning of systematic research on sexual victimization, it has been recognized that a substantial proportion of women report nonconsensual sexual experiences meeting the defining criteria of rape in response to behaviorally specific items, but do not acknowledge their experience as rape in response to broad questions about whether they have ever been raped. Recent studies suggest that rates of unacknowledged rape may be as high or even higher among men than among women. This study examined rates of unacknowledged female and male victims of rape and sexual assault by comparing responses to behaviorally specific items of the Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale (SAV-S) with responses to broad questions using the labels of sexual assault and rape (SARA) in 593 participants (303 women) in Germany. As predicted, more women and men were classified as rape victims based on behaviorally specific items than on the basis of the broad rape item. The rates of unacknowledged rape were about 60% for women and 75% for men. The gender difference was not significant. Against our prediction, no significant differences in acknowledgement of sexual assault were found in relation to coercive strategy and victim-perpetrator relationship. Few cases of rape and sexual assault identified by the SARA items were missed by the behaviorally specific questions. The implications for establishing prevalence rates of rape and sexual assault and for comparing victims and nonvictims in terms of vulnerability factors and outcomes of sexual victimization are discussed. KW - Germany KW - rape KW - Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale KW - sexual assault KW - sexual victimization KW - unacknowledged victims Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22043 SN - 0096-140X SN - 1098-2337 VL - 48 IS - 6 SP - 573 EP - 582 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krahé, Barbara A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Tomaszewska, Paulina T1 - Prevalence of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration in a German university student sample JF - Archives of sexual behavior : the official publication of the International Academy of Sex Research N2 - This study examined the prevalence of sexual aggression perpetration and victimization in a sample of 1,172 students (755 female, 417 male) from four universities in Germany. All participants were asked about both victimization by, and perpetration of, sexual aggression since the age of 14 years, using the Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale (SAV-S). Prevalence rates were established for different coercive strategies, sexual acts, and victim-perpetrator relationships. Both same-sex and opposite-sex victim-perpetrator constellations were examined. The overall victimization rate was 62.1% for women and 37.5% for men. The overall perpetration rate was 17.7% for men and 9.4% for women. Prevalence rates of both victimization and perpetration were higher for participants who had sexual contacts with both opposite-sex and same-sex partners than for participants with exclusively opposite-sex partners. Significant overlap was found between victim and perpetrator status for men and women as well as for participants with only opposite-sex and both opposite-sex and same-sex partners. A disparity between (higher) victimization and (lower) perpetration reports was found for both men and women, suggesting a general underreporting of perpetration rather than a gendered explanation in terms of social desirability or the perception of consent cues. The findings are placed in the international research literature on the prevalence of sexual aggression before and after the #metoo campaign, and their implications for prevention efforts are discussed. KW - Sexual aggression KW - Sexual victimization KW - Male victims KW - Female perpetrators KW - Same-sex relationships Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-01963-4 SN - 0004-0002 SN - 1573-2800 VL - 50 IS - 5 SP - 2109 EP - 2121 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Tomaszewska, Paulina A1 - Marchewka, Juliette A1 - Krahé, Barbara T1 - Does question format matter in assessing the prevalence of sexual aggression? BT - A methodological study JF - The journal of sex research N2 - As research on sexual aggression has been growing, methodological issues in assessing prevalence rates have received increased attention. Building on work by Abbey and colleagues about effects of question format, participants in this study (1,253; 621 female; 632 male) were randomly assigned to one of two versions of the Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale (SAV-S). In Version 1, the coercive tactic (use/threat of physical force, exploitation of the inability to resist, verbal pressure) was presented first, and sexual acts (sexual touch, attempted and completed sexual intercourse, other sexual acts) were presented as subsequent questions. In Version 2, sexual acts were presented first, and coercive tactics as subsequent questions. No version effects emerged for overall perpetration rates reported by men and women. The overall victimization rate across all items was significantly higher in the tactic-first than in the sexual-act-first conditions for women, but not for men. Classifying participants by their most severe experience of sexual victimization showed that fewer women were in the nonvictim category and more men were in the nonconsensual sexual contact category when the coercive tactic was presented first. Sexual experience background did not moderate the findings. The implications for the measurement of self-reported sexual aggression victimization and perpetration are discussed. KW - self-report measures KW - experiences survey KW - risk-factors KW - victimization KW - rape KW - assault KW - women KW - perpetration KW - reliability KW - responses Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2020.1777927 SN - 0022-4499 SN - 1559-8519 VL - 58 IS - 4 SP - 502 EP - 511 PB - Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group CY - Abingdon ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Tomaszewska, Paulina A1 - Marchewka, Juliette A1 - Krahé, Barbara T1 - Does question format matter in assessing the prevalence of sexual aggression? BT - A methodological study T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - As research on sexual aggression has been growing, methodological issues in assessing prevalence rates have received increased attention. Building on work by Abbey and colleagues about effects of question format, participants in this study (1,253; 621 female; 632 male) were randomly assigned to one of two versions of the Sexual Aggression and Victimization Scale (SAV-S). In Version 1, the coercive tactic (use/threat of physical force, exploitation of the inability to resist, verbal pressure) was presented first, and sexual acts (sexual touch, attempted and completed sexual intercourse, other sexual acts) were presented as subsequent questions. In Version 2, sexual acts were presented first, and coercive tactics as subsequent questions. No version effects emerged for overall perpetration rates reported by men and women. The overall victimization rate across all items was significantly higher in the tactic-first than in the sexual-act-first conditions for women, but not for men. Classifying participants by their most severe experience of sexual victimization showed that fewer women were in the nonvictim category and more men were in the nonconsensual sexual contact category when the coercive tactic was presented first. Sexual experience background did not moderate the findings. The implications for the measurement of self-reported sexual aggression victimization and perpetration are discussed. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 844 KW - self-report measures KW - experiences survey KW - risk-factors KW - victimization KW - rape KW - assault KW - women KW - perpetration KW - reliability KW - responses Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-546632 SN - 1866-8364 IS - 4 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Tomaszewska, Paulina A1 - Krahé, Barbara T1 - Changing cognitive risk factors for sexual aggression BT - Risky sexual scripts, low sexual self-esteem, perception of pornography, and acceptance of sexual coercion T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - Sexual aggression is a problem among college students worldwide, and a growing body of research has identified variables associated with an increased risk of victimization and perpetration. Among these, sexuality-related cognitions, such as sexual scripts, sexual self-esteem, perceived realism of pornography, and acceptance of sexual coercion, play a major role. The current experimental study aimed to show that these cognitive risk factors of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration are amenable to change, which is a critical condition for evidence-based intervention efforts. College students in Germany (N = 324) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a treatment group designed to change participants' sexual scripts for consensual sex with regard to the role of alcohol consumption, casual sex, and ambiguous communication of sexual intentions as risk factors for sexual aggression (EG1), a treatment group designed to promote sexual self-esteem, challenge the perceived realism of pornography, and reduce the acceptance of sexual coercion (EG2), and a non-treatment control group (CG). Baseline (T1), post-experimental (T2), and follow-up (T3) measures were taken across an eight-week period. Sexual scripts contained fewer risk factors for sexual aggression in EG1 than in EG2 and CG at T3. Sexual self-esteem was enhanced in EG2 at T2 relative to the other two groups. Acceptance of sexual coercion was lower in EG2 than in EG1 and CG at T2 and T3. No effect was found for perceived realism of pornography. The findings are discussed in terms of targeting cognitive risk factors as a basis for intervention programs. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 859 KW - sexual aggression KW - sexual scripts KW - sexual self-esteem KW - sexual coercion KW - college students Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-549072 SN - 1866-8364 IS - 3-4 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Tomaszewska, Paulina A1 - Krahé, Barbara T1 - Changing cognitive risk factors for sexual aggression BT - Risky sexual scripts, low sexual self-esteem, perception of pornography, and acceptance of sexual coercion JF - Journal of interpersonal violence N2 - Sexual aggression is a problem among college students worldwide, and a growing body of research has identified variables associated with an increased risk of victimization and perpetration. Among these, sexuality-related cognitions, such as sexual scripts, sexual self-esteem, perceived realism of pornography, and acceptance of sexual coercion, play a major role. The current experimental study aimed to show that these cognitive risk factors of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration are amenable to change, which is a critical condition for evidence-based intervention efforts. College students in Germany (N = 324) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a treatment group designed to change participants' sexual scripts for consensual sex with regard to the role of alcohol consumption, casual sex, and ambiguous communication of sexual intentions as risk factors for sexual aggression (EG1), a treatment group designed to promote sexual self-esteem, challenge the perceived realism of pornography, and reduce the acceptance of sexual coercion (EG2), and a non-treatment control group (CG). Baseline (T1), post-experimental (T2), and follow-up (T3) measures were taken across an eight-week period. Sexual scripts contained fewer risk factors for sexual aggression in EG1 than in EG2 and CG at T3. Sexual self-esteem was enhanced in EG2 at T2 relative to the other two groups. Acceptance of sexual coercion was lower in EG2 than in EG1 and CG at T2 and T3. No effect was found for perceived realism of pornography. The findings are discussed in terms of targeting cognitive risk factors as a basis for intervention programs. KW - sexual aggression KW - sexual scripts KW - sexual self-esteem KW - sexual coercion KW - college students Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520922341 SN - 0886-2605 SN - 1552-6518 VL - 37 IS - 3-4 SP - NP1377 EP - NP1400 PB - Sage Publ. CY - Thousand Oaks ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Krahe, Barbara T1 - Predicting Sexual Victimization Among College Students in Chile and Turkey: A Cross-Cultural Analysis JF - Archives of sexual behavior : the official publication of the International Academy of Sex Research KW - Sexual victimization KW - Sexual scripts KW - Religiosity KW - Chile KW - Turkey Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1335-z SN - 0004-0002 SN - 1573-2800 VL - 48 IS - 8 SP - 2565 EP - 2580 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Krahe, Barbara T1 - Prevalence of Sexual Aggression Victimization and Perpetration in Chile BT - A Systematic Review JF - Trauma violence & abuse N2 - Sexual aggression is a major public health issue worldwide, but most knowledge is derived from studies conducted in North America and Western Europe. Little research has been conducted on the prevalence of sexual aggression in developing countries, including Chile. This article presents the first systematic review of the evidence on the prevalence of sexual aggression victimization and perpetration among women and men in Chile. Furthermore, it reports differences in prevalence rates in relation to victim and perpetrator characteristics and victim–perpetrator relationships. A total of N = 28 studies were identified by a three-stage literature search, including the screening of academic databases, publications of Chilean institutions, and reference lists. A great heterogeneity was found for prevalence rates of sexual victimization, ranging between 1.0% and 51.9% for women and 0.4% and 48.0% for men. Only four studies provided perpetration rates, which varied between 0.8% and 26.8% for men and 0.0% and 16.5% for women. No consistent evidence emerged for differences in victimization rates in relation to victims’ gender, age, and education. Perpetrators were more likely to be persons known to the victim. Conceptual and methodological differences between the studies are discussed as reasons for the great variability in prevalence rates, and recommendations are provided for a more harmonized and gender-inclusive approach for future research on sexual aggression in Chile. KW - sexual aggression KW - victimization KW - perpetration KW - Chile KW - review Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838017697307 SN - 1524-8380 SN - 1552-8324 VL - 20 IS - 2 SP - 229 EP - 244 PB - Sage Publ. CY - Thousand Oaks ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Krahe, Barbara T1 - Predictors of sexual aggression perpetration among male and female college students BT - Cross-Cultural Evidence From Chile and Turkey JF - Sexual abuse : official journal of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) N2 - This two-wave longitudinal study examined risky sexual scripts and sexual behavior regarding consensual sexual interactions, sexual self-esteem, initiation assertiveness, and religiosity as predictors of sexual aggression perpetration in a cross-cultural comparison of college students in Chile and Turkey. As predicted, risky sexual scripts were linked to higher odds of perpetration through more risky sexual behavior cross-sectionally in both the Chilean and the Turkish sample and indirectly predicted perpetration 12 months later. High sexual self-esteem increased the likelihood of perpetration via higher initiation assertiveness in the Turkish sample only. High religiosity reduced the odds of perpetration through less risky sexual scripts and less risky sexual behavior in both samples. In addition, high religiosity increased the probability of perpetration through lower sexual self-esteem in the Turkish sample. Implications of these findings and the role of cultural factors contributing to the differential functioning of religiosity and sexual self-esteem are discussed. KW - sexual aggression perpetration KW - risk factors KW - sexual scripts KW - Chile KW - Turkey Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063218793632 SN - 1079-0632 SN - 1573-286X VL - 31 IS - 3 SP - 318 EP - 343 PB - Sage CY - Thousand Oaks ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuster, Isabell A1 - Krahé, Barbara T1 - The prevalence of sexual aggression in Turkey: A systematic review JF - Aggression and violent behavior : a review journa N2 - Although sexual aggression is recognized as a serious problem worldwide, evidence on the prevalence and impact of sexual aggression is based predominantly on studies from Western countries with a Christian or non-religious majority. Little evidence is available from non-Western countries, especially from Muslim societies. The purpose of the present article was to provide a first systematic review of the studies examining the prevalence of sexual aggression in Turkey, including both victimization and perpetration reports from women and men. Additionally, differences in prevalence rates depending on relationship constellations and characteristics of victims and perpetrators were reviewed. By a two-stage literature search, 56 studies were identified for inclusion. All studies examined sexual victimization of women, only four studies included sexual victimization of men. Data on sexual aggression perpetration were extremely limited, with only two studies providing prevalence rates. Prevalence rates of sexual victimization were found to vary greatly, which may be attributed to a lack of methodological and conceptual consistency across studies. Likewise, no consistent picture was revealed for victims' or perpetrators' sociodemographic or situational characteristics associated with differences in prevalence rates. We discuss reasons for the variability in prevalence rates and outline recommendations for future research. KW - Sexual aggression KW - Victimization KW - Perpetration KW - Prevalence KW - Turkey KW - Review Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2017.05.003 SN - 1359-1789 SN - 1873-6335 VL - 37 SP - 102 EP - 114 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER -