A new study links sexual violence in youths to exposure to violence in media; about 1 in 10 people ages 21 and younger reported being forced into a sexual act.
According to a news release, "sexual violence is a public health problem with more than 1 million victims and associated costs of almost $127 billion each year." Researchers analyzed data from 1,058 participants, between ages 14 and 21 years old, focusing sexual violence "as coercive and forced sexual behavior."
The findings were published in JAMA Pediatrics, a JAMA Network publication:
Nine percent of youths (n=108) reported perpetrating some type of sexual violence in their lifetime: 8 percent (n=84) kissed, touched or made someone else do something sexual knowing the other person did not want to (forced contact); 3 percent (n=33) got someone to have sex when they knew the other person did not want to (coercive sex); 3 percent (n=43) attempted but were not able to force someone to have sex (attempted rape); and 2 percent (n=18) forced someone to have sex (completed rape).
The most common age at the first perpetration of sexual violence was 16 years old, and males were overwhelmingly more likely to have their first episode at 15 years of age or younger. Perpetrators of sexual violence also tended to report more frequently being exposed to media that depicted sexual and violent situations, although the results were not always statistically significant, according to the study.
"Certainly, however, links between perpetration and violent sexual media are apparent, suggesting a need to monitor adolescents' consumption of this material, particularly given today's media saturation among the adolescent population," the authors concluded. "Because victim blaming appears to be common while perpetrators experiencing consequences is not, there is urgent need for high school (and middle school) programs aimed at supporting bystander intervention."
Researchers findings show victims were most likely a romantic partner of the aggressor. According to the news release, 50 percent of perpetrators of the sexual violence also claimed the victim was responsible for the violent act.
If you or someone you know is a victim of dating violence, visit loveisrespect.org for more help.
