Sextortion, Nonconsensual Pornography, and Mental Health Outcomes Across the Lifespan: The Moderating Role of Gender, Age, and Sexual Orientation
Introduction: Although the association between being a victim of image‐based sexual abuse (IBSA) and psychological maladjustment has been documented in previous research, studies on variations in the rates and consequences of this phenomenon as a function of certain sociodemographic variables are sc...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Formato: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
| Repositorio: | Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:biblosearchi::0a52193bbca0e50f9ae53dfc9a12d08e |
| Acesso em linha: | https://hdl.handle.net/10486/768461 https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13178-024-01071-7 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palavra-chave: | Image-based sexual abuse Online sexual victimization Nonconsensual pornography Sextortion Psicología |
| Resumo: | Introduction: Although the association between being a victim of image‐based sexual abuse (IBSA) and psychological maladjustment has been documented in previous research, studies on variations in the rates and consequences of this phenomenon as a function of certain sociodemographic variables are scarce. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the frequency of nonconsensual pornography and sextortion throughout the lifespan and to analyze whether the relationship between being the victim of some types of IBSA and suffering its possible psychological repercussions varies according to gender, age, and sexual orientation. Method: The study sample comprised 2,748 Spaniards (range, 14–79 years; M = 25.69, SD = 10.17), who completed self-report instruments on IBSA and the related psychological outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem). Results: Our findings revealed that 15.1% of the study participants reported IBSA victimization. Women and young people were more likely to experience IBSA than men and older people, respectively. Sexual minorities were also particularly vulnerable to this type of victimization. The studied IBSA types were significantly related to higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms and lower self-esteem. Moderation analysis revealed that compared to younger adults, older adults showed a stronger association between being a victim of nonconsensual pornography and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our study highlights the need to prevent the potential adverse outcomes of IBSA by focusing on the most vulnerable populations. Policy Implications: The study findings point to the importance of extending IBSA awareness campaigns beyond adolescence, as adults are also victims and suffer severe consequences |
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