Applying the Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression in the Context of Acute Intoxication and State Emotion Regulation

Abstract

Sexual aggression perpetration is a pervasive public health problem and identifying who is at greatest risk is essential for the development of targeted, evidence-based prevention. The current study evaluates the effects of state emotion regulation (ER), acute alcohol intoxication, and Confluence Model constructs on sexual aggression perpetration intentions. Single, male social drinkers ages 21-30 with a history of sexual risk-taking (N = 91) were randomly assigned to an alcohol (BrAC = .1%) or sober control condition and completed measures of hypothetical sexual aggression intentions, state ER, and Confluence Model constructs. Logistic regression demonstrated significant effects of hostile masculinity on sexual aggression intentions; men high in hostile masculinity expressed greater sexual aggression intentions. There were also significant effects of state ER on sexual aggression intentions. Men with poor state ER endorsed greater sexual aggression intentions, although this relationship only held for the men in the sober condition. Results suggest that interventions targeting state ER may be beneficial to sexual aggression perpetration prevention programming.