O'Hagan, Fergal T

Prevailing rates of sexual violence have necessitated research on sexual consentcommunication to remedy these issues. Research has found that individuals possess sophisticated knowledge of consent, and that discrepancies between people's attitudes and behaviours are resulting in sexual violence and compliance behaviours. The BDSM community–with its greater diversity and effective consent strategies–possess a model of consent that would be valuable in diminishing rates of adverse sexual outcomes. However, differences in consent between BDSM and non-BDSM individuals have not yet been quantified. 1,118 participants completed measures of consent attitudes, behaviours, and consequences. Results demonstrated negligible differences in consent parameters based on BDSM affiliation; however, BDSM role identity yielded large, significant trends. Dominant individuals were found to have less positive consent attitudes, less consent communication and more instances of sexual compliance compared to submissive or switch individuals. These results highlight the strength of cultural norms in dictating beliefs and behaviours.

Author Keywords: BDSM, Consent, Power, Sexual Scripts

The COVID19 pandemic produced negative outcomes, but also opportunities for post-traumaticgrowth (PTG). This mixed-methods study explored experiences of distress, coping, and growth, and the role of perceived social support and trait emotional intelligence (EI) in those outcomes. Undergraduates (N = 732) completed self-report measures of negative life events, emotional distress, PTG, trait EI, coping, and perceived social support, as well as open-ended questions about any positive impacts of the pandemic. Moderate level of PTG was reported, especially in the appreciation of life domain. Distress and PTG were weakly or non-significantly correlated, indicating these outcomes are distinct and can co-exist. Perceived social support and trait EI (Interpersonal, Adaptability) predicted greater PTG, and Trait EI (Intrapersonal, Stress Management) predicted lower distress. These effects were partially mediated by coping. Five themes emerged through qualitative analysis: Social Connectedness, New Opportunities, Appreciation of Life, Helpful Strategies, and Income and Financial Supports.

Author Keywords: Coping, COVID19, Perceived Stress, Posttraumatic Growth, Social Support, Trait Emotional Intelligence

This thesis examined the applicability of the sexual self-control model to men, which resulted in the creation and analysis of a new two-dimensional sexual double standard scale. In Study 1, a sample of 124 men completed the Self-Control Schedule assessing general learned resourcefulness, the Sexual Resourcefulness Inventory, Sexual Self-efficacy Scale, Reasons for Consenting to Unwanted Sexual Advances Scale, and the Sexual Giving-in Experiences Survey. Contrary to expectations based on female samples, lower sexual resourcefulness was not a unique predictor of consenting to unwanted sexual advances in men. Instead, a mediation model was supported whereby men having more reasons for consenting to unwanted sexual advances were more likely to comply despite having higher levels of sexual resourcefulness skills. Concurrent with Study 1, 11 men were interviewed in Study 2 to further examine their giving-in to unwanted sexual advances, reasons for consenting, and sexual resourcefulness, but men shifted the conversation toward the sexual double standard despite scoring neutral to a quantitative sexual double standard measure in the survey of Study 1. Therefore, a new sexual double standard scale was created based on the content of the interviews. Study 3 examined the new scale's psychometric properties and its association with sexual consenting. The findings revealed that the new scale was best represented by two dimensions: personal attitudes and peer responses. Neither of these two subscales uniquely predicted giving-in to unwanted sexual advances, but were significantly associated with several key variables differentially.

Author Keywords: learned resourcefulness, sexual double standard, sexual health, sexual resourcefulness, sexual script theory, unwanted sex