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The Relation of Unwanted Consensual Sex to Mental Health and Relationship Variables: the Role of Motivations

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The Relation of Unwanted Consensual Sex to Mental Health and Relationship Variables: the Role of Motivations THE RELATION OF UNWANTED CONSENSUAL SEX TO MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIP VARIABLES: THE ROLE OF MOTIVATIONS Maren Froemming A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY August 2020 Committee: Eric Dubow, Advisor Jeanne Novak Graduate Faculty Representative Anne Gordon Joshua Grubbs © 2020 Maren Froemming All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Eric Dubow, Advisor Unwanted consensual sex, when a person willingly consents to sexual activity that is unwanted in some way, is a largely understudied sexual behavior despite its relatively common prevalence. Many researchers have conceptualized unwanted consensual sex to be a negative sexual experience and even to lie on the spectrum of sexual coercion and violence. Previous research has demonstrated associations between unwanted consensual sex and poorer relationship quality and sexual satisfaction, but no research has investigated its potential association with psychological functioning. Additionally, there has been a lack of research on the role of motivations for unwanted consensual sex, though initial evidence suggests that reasons for having unwanted consensual sex may be differentially related to certain outcomes. Using an approach-avoidance motivational framework, I tested moderation models exploring how frequency of unwanted consensual sex relates to mental health and relationship variables, with either approach or avoidance motivations as moderators. A sample of 704 sexually active adults of varied age, gender, sexual orientation, and relationship status were surveyed using Amazon Mechanical Turk. Forty-four percent of the total sample endorsed engaging in unwanted consensual sex in the past year. Frequency of unwanted consensual sex was positively associated with mental health symptoms and negatively associated with well-being (marginally significant) and relationship quality. Results indicate that approach motivations for unwanted consensual sex did not moderate the relation between frequency of unwanted consensual sex and relationship quality as hypothesized. There was modest support for avoidance motivations for unwanted iv consensual sex as a moderator of the relation between frequency of unwanted consensual sex and mental health symptoms as well as well-being. Taken together, the findings provide initial support for the use of a motivational framework to understand unwanted consensual sex. Overall, results suggest that engaging in unwanted consensual sex may predict negative outcomes, and that motivations for the behavior can play an important role in predicting risk. v This dissertation is dedicated to E.J. Froemming, who finished the race of life as I was finishing the race to my Ph.D. Love you, Grandpa. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Since beginning graduate school seven years ago, I have grown as a researcher, student, teacher, clinician, advocate, and friend. None of this growth could have occurred without the constant support, love, generosity, and sacrifice of the people in my life. I’d first like to start by thanking my committee, whose encouragement and feedback strengthened both my research skills and my final manuscript. In particular, I would like to thank my advisor, Eric Dubow, for being a constant throughout my graduate school career, for giving me the autonomy I needed, and for always being willing to challenge and be challenged. Many thanks also to the mentors and teachers whose lessons I will carry with me to the next leg of my journey. I cannot fully express the gratitude I have for new friends who have supported me throughout my graduate career. Their support came in many forms: nights out dancing (my favorite self-care activity), group texts, commiseration, study tips, work parties, rides to the hospital, feeding my kid, etc. I’m also thankful to my friends from home who have taught me that true friendship can, without question, stand the test of distance and time. I’m grateful for my partner, who always has faith in me even when I don’t. Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my family for their unwavering support. This has been an incredibly long journey and I appreciate the patience you have shown to me and the sacrifices you have made to help me get here today. I love you. Finally, in honor of the late Dr. Kenneth Shemberg, a reminder to myself and my readers, “Illegitimi non carborundum.” vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 Definitions and Conceptualizations of Unwanted Consensual Sex ........................... 3 Prevalence of Unwanted Consensual Sex .................................................................. 5 Relevant Outcomes and Concurrent Correlates of Sexual Assault/Coercion and Unwanted Consensual Sex ......................................................................................... 6 Sexual Assault/Coercion: Relevant Outcomes and Concurrent Correlates ....................................................................................................... 7 Unwanted Consensual Sex: Relevant Outcomes and Concurrent Correlates ....................................................................................................... 8 Motivations for Sexual Behavior ............................................................................... 11 Specific Motivations for Engaging in Unwanted Consensual Sex ................ 12 An Overarching Motivational Framework ..................................................... 15 Present Study ............................................................................................................. 20 Hypothesis I ................................................................................................... 21 Hypothesis II .................................................................................................. 21 Hypothesis III................................................................................................. 22 Hypothesis IV ................................................................................................ 22 METHOD .............................................................................................................................. 23 Participants ................................................................................................................. 23 Procedure ................................................................................................................... 24 Measures .................................................................................................................... 25 viii Demographic Information .............................................................................. 25 Attention Checks ............................................................................................ 26 Predictors ....................................................................................................... 26 Prevalence of Unwanted Consensual Sex .......................................... 26 Frequency of Unwanted Consensual Sex .......................................... 27 Hypothesized Moderators: Motivations for Unwanted Consensual Sex ....... 27 Relationship-Specific Outcomes .................................................................... 30 Relationship Satisfaction ................................................................... 30 Relationship Intimacy ........................................................................ 31 Sexual Satisfaction ............................................................................. 32 Psychological Functioning Outcomes............................................................ 32 Well-Being ......................................................................................... 32 Mental Health Symptoms .................................................................. 33 RESULTS .............................................................................................................................. 34 Preliminary Analyses ................................................................................................. 34 Data Reduction............................................................................................... 34 Demographic Differences in the Major Study Variables ............................... 34 Variable Transformations .............................................................................. 38 Major Study Analyses ................................................................................................ 39 Hypothesis I: The Prevalence of Unwanted Consensual Sex Will Be Higher in an Age-Diverse Sample than in College Student Samples; There Will Be Gender and Partner-Type Differences in Unwanted Consensual Sex Prevalence and/or Frequency .............................................. 39 ix Hypothesis II: A Modified Measure of Motivations for Unwanted Consensual Sex, Based on a Motivational Framework, Can Be Validated ... 40 Latent Factors..................................................................................... 41 Higher-Order Factors ......................................................................... 41 Hypothesis III: Unwanted Consensual Sex Frequency Will Be Negatively Associated with Relationship Quality and Well-Being, and Positively Associated with Mental Health Symptoms .................................................... 43 Hypothesis IV:
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