Social Connections as a Protective Factor for Sexual Violence-Related Attitudes

2024  Journal Article

Social Connections as a Protective Factor for Sexual Violence-Related Attitudes

Pub TLDR

The study investigates social connections as a protective factor against problematic sexual violence-related attitudes, finding that workplace connections reduce rape myth acceptance and hostile sexism, while family connections protect against disapproval of sexual consent, rape myth acceptance, and hostile sexism. Additionally, the research reveals that connections to religious social groups may increase risk rather than provide protection.

DOI: 10.1177/10778012241270187    PubMed ID: 39149956
 

College of Health researcher(s)

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Abstract

Endorsing problematic sexual violence-related attitudes including rape myth acceptance (RMA), hostile sexism, and disapproval of sexual consent is associated with negative outcomes, including the perpetration of sexual violence. This study examined social connections as a protective factor for sexual violence-related attitudes among a sample of 770 participants. Results indicate that in the full sample, connections to a workplace were protective for RMA and hostile sexism while family connections were protective for disapproval of sexual consent, RMA, and hostile sexism. Patterns of other social connections differed in separate models for men and women. Unexpected findings indicating that connections to a religious social group are a risk, not a protective, factor are discussed.

O’Connor, J., Hoxmeier, J.C., Woerner, J., Cares, A. (2024) Social Connections as a Protective Factor for Sexual Violence-Related AttitudesViolence against women