Sex-symmetric effects of coercive behaviors on mental health? Not exactly.

The present study tested a section of the model of coercion in intimate partner violence (IPV) by investigating the relationships among coercion, IPV and mental health symptoms. The study's sample consisted of 573 culturally diverse university students (age M = 21.4) who completed a survey that measured past IPV victimization, coercive behaviors, and mental health symptoms. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that coercion was a stronger predictor of adverse mental health symptoms than was IPV victimization. In addition, the study found that the adverse effect of coercive behaviors on mental health symptoms was stronger among female victims of IPV than among male IPV victims. The results have implications for theory building, future research, and mental health professionals who work with female and male victims of IPV.

Gender differences in the relationship between intimate partner violence victimization and the perception of dating situations among college students.

Although the prevalence and severity of dating violence among college students is well known, the relationship between past victimization and perceptions of future dating situations has not been examined. Using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, this study investigated gender differences in the relationship between intimate partner violence victimization and the perceptions of dating situations. The study found that the more psychological, physical, or sexual violence that was experienced by females, the more likely they perceived dating situations as inappropriate. Males, on the other hand, were more likely to report aggressive behaviors in dating situations only if victimized by sexual violence. Implications for professionals working with college students or community prevention programs are discussed.

The role of perceptions in dating violence among young adolescents.

The high prevalence of dating violence and the severity of its aftermath warrant the collaboration between research and practice for the development of prevention and intervention programs. This study investigates young adolescents' perceptions of dating partner's behaviors in common dating situations and their behavioral reaction to these dating situations. Initially, focus groups provided responses used for the development of a dating violence questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of dating scenarios related to perceptions and expected behaviors of the characters in the scenarios. Second, another sample of adolescents responded to the scenarios. Descriptive statistics found that boys and girls reported fewer aggressive perceptions than aggressive behavioral responses to the dating scenarios. Nonparametric statistics revealed that adolescent boys were significantly more likely to expect aggressive responses than girls. These findings have implications for practitioners charged with preventing dating violence.

Sexual coercion and mental health symptoms among heterosexual men: the pressure to say "yes".

The present study investigated the prevalence of female-to-male intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health symptoms among 370 male university students. Participants completed surveys that measured three types of IPV victimization (sexual, physical, and psychological) and four types of mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression, hostility, and somatic symptoms). Correlations revealed strong positive associations between sexual, physical, and psychological IPV among male victims. Multiple regressions identified that males who reported psychological and sexual IPV from their female partner were more likely to report higher hostility, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Further analyses identified that male victims experienced much higher levels of "insisted" sexual coercion rather than "forced" sexual coercion. Mental health practitioners should be aware of the possible mental health symptoms among male IPV victims, specifically from sexual coercion. The study posits that gender socialization does not allow men to refuse sex from an intimate partner and therefore elicit mental health symptoms.

From client to pimp: male violence against female sex workers.

The present study explores intimate partner violence (IPV) among female sex workers from the red-light area based in Mumbai, India. Using a grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten sex workers to explore their experiences of IPV in the context of commercial sex work. Narratives were analyzed and themes constructed. A prevalent theme was the complex development of the male role among sex workers, starting as male clients, becoming intimate partners, and ending as their coercive pimps. In addition, themes were compared to the model of coercion in IPV. The model was generally supported, as sex workers reported exploitation from male partners, followed by coercion and ending with intense IPV victimization. This study draws attention to the drawbacks of criminalization of sex work.

Mutual partner violence: mental health symptoms among female and male victims in four racial/ethnic groups.

This study examines racial/ethnic and sex differences in the prevalence of mutual intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health symptoms. The authors asked 676 university students in heterosexual relationships if they had experienced IPV, coercive victimization, and/or perpetration as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and somatization. Analyses were conducted separately for female and male respondents in four racial/ethnic groups, totaling eight groups (female and male groups each for African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and European Americans). Men, as compared to women, reported stronger correlations between IPV perpetration and IPV victimization, with Asian American men reporting the highest associations of any group. Additionally, experiencing higher partner and coercive violence was significantly related to increased mental health symptoms for all groups except Asian American men. Taken together, these findings suggest that the majority of couples experience mutual violence that elicits mental health problems for both members of the couple.

Mental health symptoms among male victims of partner violence.

This study investigates mental health symptoms among female and male victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). More than 570 university students completed surveys that measured past IPV victimization and mental health symptoms. Cluster analyses were conducted to categorize frequency of victimization (high vs. low). Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that reporting higher number of mental health symptoms was significantly related to experiencing higher levels of IPV victimization but not to gender (female or male). This study found no statistically significant gender differences in reporting symptoms of anxiety, depression, hostility, or somatization among participants who reported high IPV victimization. The results have implications for practitioners who provide services to female and male victims of partner violence.