Vulnerability to sexual victimization: associates psychosocial and contextual factors
M. Ramos Vergeles, A. Fuertes Martín

SUMMARY

Objective: The goal of this paper is analyzing to which degree the value system related to the sexuality, the sexual roles, the sexual coercion and the roles related to the gender in heterosexual relationships, are associated with the sexual victimization, taking into account of the role that some situational aspects play in this association.

Design: cross-sectional study has been carried out, with correlational methodology.

Emplacement: The study has been made in Salamanca, Za- mora and Ávila, in university and secondary education centres.

Participants: The sample is made up of 485 adolescents and young women, with a mean age of 19.7 years (SD= 2.18).

Main measurements: The participants answered to Sexual Experiences Survey, Hypergender Ideology Scale and Sexual Belief Scale.

Results and conclusions: 40,9% of the sample reported having had non wished sexual activities due to coercitive manoeuvres of their acquaintances men. Those adolescents and young adult girls who reported having had non-coital sexual activities with friends because they used verbal pressure or invited them to consume drugs or alcohol seem to better accept this pressure if previously the girls conducted with them in a “provocative” way. Those women who reported non-coital sexual contact because their boyfriends threatened them or physically coerced them considered that they are no entitled to say “no” once they crossed boundaries and accepted sexual contacts.

KEY WORDS

Coercion, victimization, risk factors, women, attitudes.