Citation

Lyn TS, Burton DL. J. Sex. Aggress. 2005; 11(2): 127-137.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13552600500063682

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Common factors underlie sexual and non-sexual aggression, and they co-occur at high rates. This study reports on whether Dutton et al.'s model of partner abuse (1994) also predicts sexual offender status. Incarcerated sexual offenders (n = 144) and non-sexual offenders (n = 34) completed a voluntary, anonymous survey of attachment, anger and anxiety measures. Sexual offenders produced significantly higher insecure attachment (p = 0.001), anger (p < 0.05) and generalized anxiety (p < 0.01) scores than non-sexual offenders. Intended multivariate analyses were prohibited by multicollinearity between predictors. Although insecure attachment, anxiety and anger distinguish sexual from non-sexual offenders, their predictive power in a multivariate model is yet to be determined. Awareness of the co-occurrence of sexual and non-sexual violence would improve assessment and treatment approaches for professionals in both arenas.