NCJ Number
208600
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 22-35
Date Published
January 2001
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between childhood maternal and paternal attachment insecurity and later coercive sexual behavior in nonoffenders.
Abstract
The criminological and psychopathological research literature has well established the influence of adverse early family experiences on the development of conduct problems and criminal behavior in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The current study sought to replicate and extend the findings for a previous study that explored the link between parental attachment insecurity and coercive sexual behavior in nonoffenders. Participants in the current study were 119 male undergraduates who completed self-report measures of childhood maternal and paternal attachment, adult attachment, antisocial behavior, aggressive behavior, and coercive sexual behavior. Results of correlation analyses and hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that, consistent with previous research findings, insecure childhood parental attachment was significantly associated with later coercive sexual behavior. However, in contrast to previous research findings, maternal avoidant attachment rather than paternal avoidant attachment proved to be an important predictor of later coercive sexual behavior. Other results revealed that insecure maternal and paternal attachment were related to later coercive sexual behavior independent of aggressive behavior and antisocial behavior. Future research should focus on differences in past and current patterns of attachment insecurity between offenders and nonoffenders, sexual and nonsexual offenders, and subtypes of sexual offenders. Tables, references