000 03198nab a22003017a 4500
999 _c7317
_d7317
005 20250625151558.0
008 211021s2021 ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
040 _aAFVC
100 _aEspelage, Dorothy L.
_93890
245 _aSocial networks of adolescent sexual violence perpetrators :
_bpeer friendship and trusted adult characteristics
_cDorothy L. Espelage, Kelly L. Rulison, Katherine M. Ingram, Alberto Valido, Karen Schmeelk-Cone and Peter A. Wyman
260 _bSpringer,
_c2021
500 _aPrevention Science, First published 3 September 2021
520 _aThe current study tested differences in social network characteristics of high school students who report perpetrating sexual violence (SV) versus those who do not. N = 4554 students (49% male, 49% female, 2% another gender identity; 45% Hispanic, 43% white, 12% another racial identity) from 20 high schools reported how often they had perpetrated 13 sexually violent behaviors. Using their responses, students were classified as follows: non-perpetrators, sexual harassment perpetrators, low contact perpetrators, or high contact perpetrators. Students named up to 7 close friends and up to 7 trusted adults at their school and answered questions about other behaviors and attitudes. This information was used to assess (1) students’ connections with peers, (2) students’ connections with trusted adults, and (3) friends’ characteristics. Multilevel models indicated that compared to their peers, high contact perpetrators were less involved in the peer networks, less connected to trusted adults, and more likely to have friends who were involved in risky behaviors (e.g., sexual violence, homophobic name-calling, substance use). Low contact perpetrators were as connected to peers and trusted adults as non-perpetrators but were more likely to have friends engaged in sexual violence and homophobic naming-calling perpetration. By contrast, sexual harassment perpetrators were more involved and held higher status in the peer network (e.g., received more friendship nominations) but otherwise had similar friendship characteristics and similar connections to trusted adults as non-perpetrators. Building on these results, social network-informed SV prevention should use opinion leaders to change SV norms throughout the network and encourage new relationships between low- and high-risk students so as to disseminate norms that do not tolerate SV. Promoting connections to trusted adults also may be a useful avenue, especially for isolated adolescents. (Authors' abstract). Record #7317
650 _aADOLESCENTS
_943
650 _aPERPETRATORS
_92644
650 4 _aSEXUAL VIOLENCE
_9531
650 _aYOUNG PEOPLE
_9660
651 _aINTERNATIONAL
_93624
700 _aRulison, Kelly L.
_910338
700 _aIngram, Katherine M.
_910339
700 _aValido, Alberto
_910340
700 _aSchmeelk-Cone, Karen
_910341
700 _aWyman, Peter A.
_910342
773 0 _tPrevention Science, First published 3 September 2021
830 _aPrevention Science
_94975
856 _uhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01296-7
_zDOI: 10.1007/s11121-021-01296-7 (Open access)
942 _2ddc
_cARTICLE