title: Adult interpersonal features of subtypes of sexual offenders.
abstract: Although the role of interpersonal factors on sexual offending is already recognized, there is a need for further investigation on the psychosocial correlates of pedophilic behavior. This study aimed to examine the relationship between adult interpersonal features and subtypes of sexual offending. The study involved the participation of a total of 164 male convicted offenders namely 50 rapists, 63 child molesters (20 pedophilic and 43 nonpedophilic), and 51 nonsexual offenders. All participants were assessed using the Adult Attachment Scale, the Interpersonal Behavior Survey, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Socially Desirable Response Set Measure. Results from sets of multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that pedophilic offenders were more likely to present anxiety in adult relationships compared to nonsex offenders. Likewise, nonpedophilic child molesters were less likely to be generally aggressive compared to rapists and nonsex offenders, as well as less generally assertive than rapists. Overall, findings indicated that certain interpersonal features characterized subtypes of offenders, thus providing some insight on their particular therapeutic needs. Further replications with larger samples particularly of pedophilic child molesters are required.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: vera.sigre.leiros@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sigre-Leirós
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nobre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010378:Pedophilia / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Interpersonal factors; Pedophilia; Sexual offenders; Sexual offending