Sammanfattning
The aim of the thesis was to study victimization from intimate partner rape among both females and males in a Ugandan sample together with its psychological concomitants, and its association with victimization from controlling behavior and physical aggression. Accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape were also studied in relation to sexual abuse in general.
Notably, a dearth of research exists that specifically delves into sex differences in intimate partner rape within the African milieu, while concurrently addressing its psychological ramifications. The present investigation employed a quantitative approach, and the studies were conducted with two separate samples. By focusing on a specific African context, the three studies aimed to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on intimate partner rape, thereby bridging the gap in the literature.
Study 1 sought to examine sex differences, psychological concomitants, and educational level related to victimization from intimate partner rape in Uganda. A questionnaire was administered to 609 females and 420 males. The mean age was 31.5 years (SD 10.9) and 34.4 years (SD 11.3) for females and males, respectively. Females reported significantly higher frequencies of victimization from intimate partner rape than males, who nevertheless also reported having been victimized from rape. Respondents with no education reported significantly higher frequencies of victimization than others. Respondents who had been more than average victimized scored significantly higher on depression and anxiety and had significantly lower self-esteem than others. Females who had been victimized more than average scored significantly lower on self-esteem than the other groups.
Study 2 aimed at exploring the association between victimization from intimate partner rape and victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior and physical aggression. The sample was the same as in Study I. Respondents who had been more than average victimized from intimate partner rape scored significantly higher than others on victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior and intimate partner physical aggression. The association followed the same pattern for females and males. Females had been significantly more often victimized from intimate partner physical aggression than males, while no significant sex difference was found on victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior. Victimization from physical aggression and controlling behavior from a partner were highly correlated with each other for both females and males.
Study 3 aimed at investigating accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape, its psychological concomitants, and victimization of sexual abuse. A survey instrument was administered to 315 participants, comprising 174 females and 141 males. The mean age was 31.7 years (SD = 10.3) for females and 33.6 years (SD = 12.4) for males. The acceptance rate for rape within intimate relationships was high, with only one percent of females and two percent of males reporting zero tolerance, no significant sex difference was found. Age exhibited a positive correlation with accepting attitudes towards rape in intimate relationships. Respondents with higher levels of education demonstrated significantly lower acceptance levels of intimate partner rape. Significantly higher scores were observed among females regarding psychological concomitants associated with intimate partner rape as well as victimization stemming from aggression linked to the denial of sex, and victimization from sexual abuse. Psychological concomitants of intimate partner rape were markedly more prevalent among respondents with only primary school education compared to those with higher educational attainment. For females, but not for males, accepting attitudes towards rape correlated positively with psychological concomitants.
The findings of the studies showed that females in the samples had significantly more often been victimised from intimate partner rape than males, and that they also scored significantly higher on psychological concomitants of rape. Both females and males who had been more than average victimized scored significantly higher than others on depression, anxiety, victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior, and physical aggression, and they had significantly lower self-esteem. The acceptance rate for rape within intimate relationships was high in the sample with no significant sex differences, and age correlated positively with acceptance rates. Accepting attitudes also correlated positively with negative psychological concomitants for females, but not for males. Respondents with higher levels of education had significantly lower acceptance levels, while psychological concomitants were more prevalent among respondents with low education.
Key words: Intimate partner rape, victimization, sex differences, psychological concomitants, acceptance of rape, controlling behavior, physical aggression, sexual abuse, educational level, Uganda
Notably, a dearth of research exists that specifically delves into sex differences in intimate partner rape within the African milieu, while concurrently addressing its psychological ramifications. The present investigation employed a quantitative approach, and the studies were conducted with two separate samples. By focusing on a specific African context, the three studies aimed to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on intimate partner rape, thereby bridging the gap in the literature.
Study 1 sought to examine sex differences, psychological concomitants, and educational level related to victimization from intimate partner rape in Uganda. A questionnaire was administered to 609 females and 420 males. The mean age was 31.5 years (SD 10.9) and 34.4 years (SD 11.3) for females and males, respectively. Females reported significantly higher frequencies of victimization from intimate partner rape than males, who nevertheless also reported having been victimized from rape. Respondents with no education reported significantly higher frequencies of victimization than others. Respondents who had been more than average victimized scored significantly higher on depression and anxiety and had significantly lower self-esteem than others. Females who had been victimized more than average scored significantly lower on self-esteem than the other groups.
Study 2 aimed at exploring the association between victimization from intimate partner rape and victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior and physical aggression. The sample was the same as in Study I. Respondents who had been more than average victimized from intimate partner rape scored significantly higher than others on victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior and intimate partner physical aggression. The association followed the same pattern for females and males. Females had been significantly more often victimized from intimate partner physical aggression than males, while no significant sex difference was found on victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior. Victimization from physical aggression and controlling behavior from a partner were highly correlated with each other for both females and males.
Study 3 aimed at investigating accepting attitudes towards intimate partner rape, its psychological concomitants, and victimization of sexual abuse. A survey instrument was administered to 315 participants, comprising 174 females and 141 males. The mean age was 31.7 years (SD = 10.3) for females and 33.6 years (SD = 12.4) for males. The acceptance rate for rape within intimate relationships was high, with only one percent of females and two percent of males reporting zero tolerance, no significant sex difference was found. Age exhibited a positive correlation with accepting attitudes towards rape in intimate relationships. Respondents with higher levels of education demonstrated significantly lower acceptance levels of intimate partner rape. Significantly higher scores were observed among females regarding psychological concomitants associated with intimate partner rape as well as victimization stemming from aggression linked to the denial of sex, and victimization from sexual abuse. Psychological concomitants of intimate partner rape were markedly more prevalent among respondents with only primary school education compared to those with higher educational attainment. For females, but not for males, accepting attitudes towards rape correlated positively with psychological concomitants.
The findings of the studies showed that females in the samples had significantly more often been victimised from intimate partner rape than males, and that they also scored significantly higher on psychological concomitants of rape. Both females and males who had been more than average victimized scored significantly higher than others on depression, anxiety, victimization from intimate partner controlling behavior, and physical aggression, and they had significantly lower self-esteem. The acceptance rate for rape within intimate relationships was high in the sample with no significant sex differences, and age correlated positively with acceptance rates. Accepting attitudes also correlated positively with negative psychological concomitants for females, but not for males. Respondents with higher levels of education had significantly lower acceptance levels, while psychological concomitants were more prevalent among respondents with low education.
Key words: Intimate partner rape, victimization, sex differences, psychological concomitants, acceptance of rape, controlling behavior, physical aggression, sexual abuse, educational level, Uganda
| Originalspråk | Engelska |
|---|---|
| Kvalifikation | Doktor i filosofi |
| Tilldelande institution |
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| Handledare |
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| Tilldelningsdatum | 13 feb. 2025 |
| Förlag | |
| Tryckta ISBN | ISBN 978-952-12-4461-2, ISBN 978-952-12-4461-2, ISBN 978-952-12-4460-5 |
| Elektroniska ISBN | ISBN 978-952-12-4461-2 |
| Status | Publicerad - 13 feb. 2025 |
| MoE-publikationstyp | G5 Doktorsavhandling (artikel) |