Differences Across People Who Have Been Sexually Harmed and Those With a Dual-Role History: An Exploratory and...

The overlap between experiencing and perpetrating sexual harm remains understudied within the sexual violence literature. Nonconsensual sexual experiences (NSEs) are associated with increased post-traumatic stress (PTS), depressive symptomatology, and greater risk for perpetration of nonconsensual sexual experiences (PNSEs). The current study examined differences between people with NSE-only histories and those with dual-role histories involving both victimization and perpetration (dual nonconsensual sexual experiences [DNSEs]). Guided by victim-offender overlap, social learning, and cognitive distortion frameworks, theory-informed comparisons across cumulative victimization exposure, perpetration tactics, acknowledgment of NSEs, beliefs about sexual aggression, psychological distress, and demographic characteristics. Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,177 participants recruited through Prolific, a university research pool, and snowball sampling. The final sample included 417 participants in the NSE-only group (57.8%) and 305 in the DNSE group (42.2%). Participants with DNSE histories reported significantly greater NSE frequency, higher acceptance of myths about sexual aggression, and greater experiences involving intoxication and enticement tactics. DNSE histories were also associated with being older, more highly educated, and more likely to identify as cisgender men. No significant group differences emerged for PTS symptoms, depressive symptoms, or NSE acknowledgment. Findings suggest that dual-role histories may be associated with cumulative exposure to sexual harm, greater endorsement of beliefs that normalize sexual aggression, and differential exposure to coercive tactics. Implications for theory development, prevention, and trauma-informed intervention are discussed.