Upgrade to remove ads
Only $35.99/year

Behavioral Health Chapter 29: Sexual Violence

Terms in this set (27)

Sexual Violence
Sexual assault is an act of violence, power, hate, but not sex.
Committed to demonstrate dominance.
Sexual violence is related to teen pregnancy, transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV.
Mental health issues are more prevalent in people who have been sexually assaulted (e.g. depression, suicide, use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs).
All individuals who have experienced SV suffer severe, deep, emotional scars.
In addition to physical trauma (e.g. STDs, pregnancy), psychologic consequences include depression, anxiety, difficulties with daily functioning, low self-esteem, eating disorders, self-destructive behaviors, substance abuse, and higher rates of suicide than in the general population, among others
CDC Sexual Violence Categories
- completed or attempted forced penetration
- completed or attempted forced acts in which a victim is made to penetrate someone else (including perpetrator)
- non-physically forced penetration after pressure to consent or acquiesce
- unwanted sexual contact
- unwanted noncontact sexual experiences
Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence
- rape
- date rape
- acquaintance rape
- gang rape
- marital or partner rape
- sexual molestation
- incest
- statutory rape
- sexual assault of older adults
Rape
Legal term versus medical diagnosis
Rape is a legal term, and not a medical diagnosis.
Legal definitions vary from state to state.
Should be considered a criminal act with long-term medical, psychologic, legal, and social problems.
Reporting crimes of sexual assault is not mandated unless it involves the abuse of a minor or older adult.
It is up to the survivors of assault to make the decision to report the crime.
It is up to the health care workers to offer support, information on obtaining legal counsel, and, with the patient's permission, secure forensic evidence by a qualified person for future prosecution.
Date Rape
Is a form of acquintance rape, but in the case of date rape, the "victim agreed to spend time with attacker."
Date rape is still rape.
Date Rape Drugs
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) - affects the CNS
Names include liquid ecstasy, salty water, scoop, homeboy.
Causes grievous bodily harm.

Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) - is a potent benzodiazepine
Is the "forget" drug.
Also called roofies, club drug, roachies, rophies, Mexican valium.

Ketamine - is an anesthetic frequently used in veterinary practice; is a hallucinogenic agent related to PCP
Names include special K, K, vitamin K, bump, kitkat, purple, super C.

Cause retrograde amnesia.
Survivor
- individual who has experienced a sexual assault and has worked through many of the issues and is going forward in her life
- without fear, intrusive thoughts, depression, etc.
Victim
individual who has experienced a sexual assault and can become a survivor with time, intervention, and/or counseling
Children: Child Sexual Abuse or Incest
Child sexual assault and incest are reaching an all-time high.
¼ girls and ⅙ boys are sexually molested by 18 years of age.
Approximately 75% of molestation is perpetrated by family members.
Nearly 30% of reported child sexual assaults were children between 4-7 years of age.
Child sexual assault and incest also include:
Coercing children to touch the molester inappropriately
Showing children pornographic photographs or videos
Initiating inappropriate conversations involving sexual topics
Sexual Violence - Youth
High school: 8% of high school students report being forced to have sex.
Young adults: 20-25% of college women will experience an attempted or completed rape by the end of their college years.
90% will know their attackers.
Majority of sexual assaults in young adults are gang rapes.
Young persons, ages 16-19 years, experience the highest rate of sexual violence.
Alcohol or other drugs are often involved.
Drugs and alcohol are often involved in gang rape.
Prevalence and Comorbidity
Statistics on sexual violence and assault are always approximate.
Both rape and child sexual molestation are among the most underreported crimes.
As few as 1-10% are ever disclosed.
Sexual assault is usually committed by men against women.
Sexual assault can be committed by women against men or between persons of the same gender.
Majority of perpetrators are men.
Gay men are more likely to be abused than straight men.
Common in jail or military.
Older women are being more abused now.
Cultural Considerations
Sexual violence happens in any socioeconomic group.
Sexual violence occurs acoss all ages.
Cultural and societal factors create attitudes.
Certain cultural and societal norms maintain women's inferiority through the support of male superiority and sexual entitlement.

Military
Male-on-male violence is increasing.
Sexual assault on women in the military is the result of gender inequality or norms supporting male dominance.
Male and LGBT Victims
Gay men are victims of sexual assault more often than heterosexual men.
Prisons and the military have the greatest percentage of male rapes.
Male rape also happens in cars, restrooms, colleges, universities, work, and at home.
Laws exist but are not always enforced.
Culture of "blaming the victim" still persists.
More than 50% of gay men and lesbians have reported at least one incidence of coercion by a same-sex partner.
Vulnerable Individuals
Gender: Women have a higher vulnerability.
Both genders are more vulnerable if handicapped.
Age: Those 16-19 years of age have a higher rate of sexual victimization.
Children are most vulnerable between ages 8-12 years.
Older adults: Domestic violence is most often perpetrated by relatives, caregivers, and health care providers.
If an individual is cognitively or functionally impaired, then the likelihood for violence increases.
History of sexual violence: Women raped before the age of 18 years are 2-3x more likely to be sexually assaulted as adults.
Drug and alcohol use: Increases the rates of victimization.
High-risk sexual behaviors: Vulnerability is often a consequence of childhood sexual abuse.
Poverty: May trade sex for basic needs.
Ethnicity or culture: Native Americans have a one-in-three chance of being raped.
Perpetrator of Sexual Assault - Biological Factors
Alterations in neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA])
Sets found in the same folder