One out of every four people have experienced rape or sexual violence in their lifetime, with nearly one-third of victims experiencing these crimes as a child. These statistics are disturbing on their own, yet when accounting for the ripple effects of these heinous crimes – long-term effects like PTSD and panic attacks, the distress of significant others and parents, being robbed of the basic human right of feeling safe – it’s clear to see how everyone in our community and across the Commonwealth is negatively and deeply impacted by sexual violence. person more likely to perpetrate sexual violence. Will also offer some tips in each post about protective factors that reduce the risk of violence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compile research studies to help the community better understand risk factors for perpetration. Each of the factors described below is supported by empirical research studies. You can learn more about the source for this information by visiting the CDC site. At the individual level, a person is more likely to perpetrate crimes of sexual violence if they have a history of alcohol and drug use, early delinquency, early sexual exposure, preference for risky sexual behavior, hyper, masculine behavior, and hostility towards women, and suicidal behavior.
Early family life can also contribute to risk for perpetration. Family histories that include conflict and violence, including childhood, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse all increase the risk that a person will grow up perpetrating sexual violence. Having poor relationships with parents, especially with fathers also increases the risk. Overall, an emotionally unsupportive family environment serves as an incubator for sexual violence perpetration, along with many other forms of violence in both youth and adulthood.
In recent years, focused on community level risk factors has helped to accelerate prevention work for sexual violence and other forms of violence. Poverty, lack of employment, opportunities, lack of support from justice systems, community wide tolerance of sexual violence which result in week sanctions and low rates of reporting for sexually violent crimes all contribute to higher risk for perpetration.
But it’s not all bad news! Especially as we honor, mental health awareness month, the good news is that mental health support, emotional well-being, and a sense of connectedness to family, community, school, and friends can all reduce risk of perpetration. Building the skills for empathy, conflict, resolution, and supportive family environments are all strategies for preventing sexual violence. If someone you know or love struggles with any of these risk factors or needs to do some work to build up their protective factors against sexual violence perpetration, you can start by dialing 988 to talk with a mental health professional 24 hours a day about options and resources for support and referral. We are hardened by recent work in both counties where law-enforcement departments and officials are investing in training around crisis intervention and mental health support. Reducing the stigma around mental health and seeking support for mental health concerns will help to make our communities safer from sexual violence.
