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Sex in Australia: experiences of sexual coercion among a representative sample of adults

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 18:15 authored by Richard De VisserRichard De Visser, Anthony M A Smith, Chris E Rissel, Juliet Richters, Andrew E Grulich
Objective: To provide reliable estimates of the prevalence, correlates and consequences of sexual coercion among a representative sample of Australian adults. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16–59 years. The response rate was 73.1% (69.4% men, 77.6% women). Results: Overall, 4.8% of men and 21.1% of women had experienced sexual coercion, i.e. being forced or frightened into unwanted sexual activity, and 2.8% of men and 10.3% of women had been coerced when aged 16 or younger. Although women were significantly more likely than men to have been sexually coerced, correlates of sexual coercion were similar for men and women and were not limited to effects on sexual behaviour. People who had been coerced reported greater psychosocial distress, were more likely to smoke, were more anxious about sex, and more likely to have acquired a sexually transmitted infection. Few people had talked to others about their experiences of sexual coercion and fewer had talked to a professional. Conclusion: Sexual coercion is an unacceptably common experience. Sexual coercion has detrimental effects on various aspects of people's lives. It most commonly occurs at the ages at which people become sexually active and women are more likely than men to be sexually coerced. Implications: There may be need for more readily accessible services that are better able to minimise the detrimental effects of sexual coercion. This is in addition to a more general need to reduce the incidence of sexual coercion.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health

ISSN

1326-0200

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Issue

2

Volume

27

Page range

198-203

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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