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Association Between Sexual Aggression and HIV Risk Behavior in Heterosexual Men

NCJ Number
237813
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 538-556
Author(s)
Zoe D. Peterson; Erick Janssen; Julia R. Heiman
Date Published
March 2010
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Perpetrating sexual coercion and rape can be conceptualized as a form of sexual risk taking.
Abstract
Perpetrating sexual coercion and rape can be conceptualized as a form of sexual risk taking. In this study, the authors evaluated the relationship between sexual aggression and other risky sexual behaviors (e.g., intercourse without a condom) using an online convenience sample of 1,240 heterosexual men. Sexually aggressive men engaged in more sexual risk taking (i.e., sex with multiple partners, unprotected sex, and one-night stands) than nonaggressive men, and almost half of the reported incidents of sexual aggression were unprotected (i.e., no condom was worn). Thus, sexual aggression was found to be part of a larger pattern of sexual risk taking. Regression analyses revealed that sexual aggression was associated with greater alcohol use and lower sexual inhibitiontwo variables that have consistently been found to be related to other forms of sexual risk taking. (Published Abstract)