Early maladaptive schemas and aggressive sexual behavior: a preliminary study with male college students.
BACKGROUND
The influence of adverse early attachment experiences on the development of aggressive sexual behavior has been demonstrated. Nonetheless, there is a gap in the literature regarding the conceptualization of this behavior according to developmental psychopathology models.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate a potential association between Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMSs) and aggressive sexual behavior.


METHODS
A total of 166 male college students participated in the study. Participants were divided into two comparative groups according to data from the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Perpetration (SES-SFP): Group of individuals with history of aggressive sexual behavior (N = 37) and Group of individuals without history of aggressive sexual behavior (N = 129).


METHODS
Aggressive sexual behavior was measured by the SES-SFP, and EMSs were measured by the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3).


RESULTS
Results showed that students who have committed any form of sexually aggressive behavior exhibited significantly higher levels of EMSs from the Disconnection and Rejection domain (namely, Mistrust/Abuse schema), from the Impaired Autonomy and Performance domain (namely, Dependence/Incompetence schema), and from the Overvigilance and Inhibition domain (namely, Negativity/Pessimism schema).


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary findings suggest that the EMSs were associated with aggressive sexual behavior, but further investigation is warranted.
Departamento de Educação, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. vera_leiros_36@hotmail.com
Vera Lúcia
VL
Sigre-Leirós
Joana
J
Carvalho
Pedro
P
Nobre
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013334:Students; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult