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Assessment of a Sexual Coercion Prevention Program for Adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Antonio Fuertes Martín ,
Mª Begoña Orgaz Baz ,
Isabel Vicario-Molina ,
José Luis Martínez Álvarez ,
Andrés Fernández Fuertes  and
Rodrigo J. Carcedo González
Antonio Fuertes Martín*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
Mª Begoña Orgaz Baz
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
Isabel Vicario-Molina
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
José Luis Martínez Álvarez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
Andrés Fernández Fuertes
Affiliation:
Universidad de Cantabria (Spain)
Rodrigo J. Carcedo González
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Antonio Fuertes Martín, Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Salamanca, Avda. de la Merced, 108, 37005, Salamanca (Spain). E-mail: afuertes@usal.es
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Abstract

This study's focus is to evaluate a sexual coercion prevention program in adolescents. Using a beforeand- after design with both a treatment group (n = 93) and a control group (n = 76), an intervention of seven sessions was completed. Said sessions included such content as conceptualizing sexual freedom, sexual coercion and voluntary consent, analyzing different sexual coercion tactics and the contexts in which they occur, empathy toward the victim, and developing abilities to avoid risky situations. Other risk factors for coercive behavior and sexual victimization are explored as well, such as alcohol use, sexist attitudes and inadequate communication, among others. The intervention's results include a decrease in stereotypical beliefs about the opposite sex and increased empathy toward victims of sexual coercion. These changes were maintained with the passage of time. Also, in the treatment group, a more acute decline was observed in the proportion of young people engaging in sexually coercive behaviors. This article emphasizes the importance, necessity and efficacy of such interventions, and discusses and analyzes possible improvements to the program for its future implementation.

Este estudio se centra en la evaluación de un programa de prevención de la coerción sexual en adolescentes. Basándonos en un diseño antes-después con grupo de tratamiento (n = 93) y un grupo control (n = 76), se llevaron a cabo siete sesiones de intervención que incluían contenidos como la conceptualización de libertad sexual, coerción sexual y consentimiento voluntario, el análisis de las diferentes estrategias de coerción sexual y sus contextos, la empatía hacia la víctima, el desarrollo de habilidades para evitar situaciones de riesgos. Se abordaron también otros factores de riesgo de los comportamientos coercitivos y la victimización sexual como el uso del alcohol, las actitudes sexistas y la comunicación inadecuada, entre otros. Los resultados de la intervención mostraron un descenso en las creencias estereotipadas hacia el otro sexo y un aumento de la empatía hacia las víctimas. Estos cambios se mantuvieron con el paso del tiempo. Asimismo, se observó un descenso más acusado en la proporción de jóvenes que habían llevado a cabo comportamientos sexualmente coercitivos en el grupo de tratamiento. Este trabajo resalta la importancia, necesidad y eficacia de estas intervenciones, y discute y analiza posibles mejoras de este programa para su futura implementación.

Keywords

evaluationpreventionsexual coercionadolescentsquasi-experimentalevaluaciónprevencióncoerción sexualadolescentescuasi-experimento
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , July 2012 , pp. 560 - 570
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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