Turning the Lens on Sexual Perpetration: Predictors of Acknowledging Sexual Perpetration

Factors related to sexual perpetration acknowledgment are virtually unstudied, leaving a significant gap in the sexual violence literature. The current study explored (1) perpetration frequency and tactics and (2) acceptance of myths about sexual aggression (AMASA) as potential predictors of acknowledgment. In addition, post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms were examined as possible correlates of perpetration acknowledgment. A secondary aim of this study was to provide descriptive data for the proportion of people who have sexually perpetrated and who also endorse being victimized (i.e. victim-perpetrator overlap in adulthood) as well as rates of perpetration acknowledgment in this sample. The data used were from a larger study of 1,177 participants recruited from Prolific, a university research pool, and snowball methods using a cross-sectional design. Of the 722 eligible participants, 305 (42.2%) endorsed perpetration and 302 (99.0%) of those endorsed victim-perpetrator overlap. Our results revealed positive associations between frequency and acknowledgment. Further, there were significant differences between the tactic used and acknowledgment. Finally, group differences based on acknowledgment were found when examining AMASA and psychological distress. The current study addressed critical gaps in the literature by examining factors related to perpetration acknowledgment, providing insights that can guide future research, develop theory, and inform interventions.