AUTHOR=Frentzen Engie , Reisacher Doris , Brähler Elmar , Rassenhofer Miriam , Fegert Jörg M. , Witt Andreas 

TITLE=The Predictors of Awareness of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence in the Media and the Influence on Actions of the Individuals

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.789144

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.789144

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> The number of reportings on sexual abuse (SA), sexual violence (SV) cases covered in the media has risen a significant amount with most cases involving women and children. The aim of the study is to explore the questions: Are people aware of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the media? What are the predictors of awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence? Does the awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the media affect the actions of the individuals?</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A representative survey of the German-speaking resident population (2020) on physical and mental well-being was used. The participants (<italic>N</italic> = 2,503: females = 50.9%) were between the ages of 14 and 97 (<italic>M</italic> = 49.81). The German version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, The General Habitual Well-Being Questionnaire and questions about own experiences of <italic>sexual harassment on the internet</italic>, experiences of <italic>domestic sexual abuse</italic> and different <italic>socio-economic variables</italic> were used. The outcome variables regarding the <italic>awareness of SA and SV in the media</italic>, different types of scandals (<italic>church, pedophile, USA</italic>), <italic>#MeToo-debate</italic> and the <italic>change in actions</italic> were used. Frequency analyses and binary regressions were conducted.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> One thousand five hundred and fifty-five (62.6%) respondents answered <italic>yes</italic> to being <italic>aware of SA and SV in the media</italic>. The results show that <italic>females, aging, number of children in household, Protestant</italic> and <italic>Catholic religion, school graduation</italic>, own experience(s) of <italic>sexual harassment on the internet</italic>, own experience(s) of <italic>SA in childhood</italic>, and <italic>Adverse Childhood Experiences</italic> have a significant higher association to the <italic>awareness of SA and SV in the media</italic>. <italic>German nationality</italic> and <italic>Muslim religion</italic> have a significant lower association. The variables that most commonly affected the <italic>awareness of SA and SV, scandals, debate</italic> and the individual <italic>actions</italic> were <italic>age</italic>, own experiences of <italic>sexual harassment on the internet</italic> and the <italic>Protestant religion</italic>.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Advertising more support centers, hotlines and linking this information to sexual abuse cases covered in the media should be considered. Media bystander interventions could be helpful to train people to react appropriately. Further investigation that considers the different types of media and its influence on the awareness of SA and SV is needed.</p>