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Does Self-Silencing Behavior Mediate the Relation Between Rejection Sensitivity and Sexual Violence Victimization?
Stephanie L Freitag1, Mark F Lenzenweger2,3, H Michael Crowson4
1Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Violence Against Women
|December 7, 2022
Summary
Rejection sensitivity increases sexual violence risk in women through self-silencing. This study found self-silencing mediates the link between rejection sensitivity and unwanted sexual contact or rape.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminology
Background:
- Rejection sensitivity is linked to sexual violence victimization and self-silencing.
- The interplay between these factors remains under-examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and test a theoretical model integrating rejection sensitivity, self-silencing, and sexual violence victimization.
- To examine the mediating role of self-silencing in the relationship between rejection sensitivity and unwanted sexual contact/rape.
Main Methods:
- Mediational analyses with bootstrapping were employed.
- The study sample comprised 241 heterosexual college women.
Main Results:
- Self-silencing significantly mediated the association between rejection sensitivity and reports of unwanted sexual contact.
- Self-silencing also mediated the relationship between rejection sensitivity and rape reports.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the proposed model, highlighting self-silencing as a key mechanism.
- Implications for preventing sexual violence victimization and improving interventions for victimized women are discussed.
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