To understand the impact of screening for violent or coercive sexual “behaviors” rather than value driven terms like “sexual abuse”

Background/Purpose

Little is known about what factors predict a young woman's perception of whether sexually violent behavior from a partner constitutes “abuse”. Dating violence scales are used to measure sexual violence that has occurred, but measurement of these behaviors may not agree with an individual's own perception about whether these violent behaviors signify “abuse”. According to social learning theory, the indirect experience of observing violent dating behaviors may shape the perception that an individual holds about acceptable forms of violence, including sexual violence. It is possible that adolescents who have witnessed violent acts within their family may not view violence by partners as inappropriate.

Methods

638 women aged 15-24 completed an anonymous computer survey on intimate partner violence at a reproductive health clinic in New York City. Two groups who had experienced sexually violent behaviors by a partner were compared: those who perceived they had and those who perceived they had not ever been “abused” sexually by a partner. Predictor variables examined included demographics, past pregnancy, recent condom use, parental violence, and childhood sexual abuse.

Results/Outcome

Preliminary analyses using chi-square show that the demographic and reproductive variables examined did not predict the perception of abuse. Witnessing father hitting mother was directly associated with a woman's perception that sexually coercive behaviors from her partner was “sexual abuse”.

Conclusion

It is likely that having witnessed violence plays a role in how sexual violence is perceived. Further research on the perception of violence is needed with additional predictor variables based on recent literature.