Differential Predictors of Intimate Partner Sexual Coercion Perpetration

The current study attempted to expand on existing literature regarding predictors of perpetrating intimate partner sexual violence to determine if there are unique predictors or sexual violence that differentiate it from physical abuse. It was hypothesized that men’s controlling, dominant and jealousy behaviors and verbal aggression exhibited during a conflict discussion would significantly predict both increased intimate partner sexual coercion and physical assault perpetration. Furthermore, these predictors were expected to be more predictive of sexual coercion than physical assault perpetration. Violent couples were recruited from the community (N = 159). The results demonstrated that men’s controlling behavior was a significant predictor of both sexual coercion perpetration and physical assault perpetration. Additionally, results found that different types of jealousy were unique to sexual coercion and physical assault. Specifically, behavioral jealousy was significant predictor of increased sexual coercion perpetration whereas and men’s emotional jealousy was a significant predictor of increased physical assault perpetration. Men’s emotional jealousy was significantly more predictive of physical assault perpetration more than sexual coercion perpetration. No predictors studied better predicted increased sexual coercion perpetration more than physical assault perpetration. These findings suggest that sexual coercion perpetration may be another type and form of physical assault without unique predictors.