Gender norms and sexual violence among South African adolescents

Discrepancies between personal attitudes and perceived peer norms

Bibliographic Data

ID19438726
AuthorsMorayo Akande (0000-0002-9391-0470, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, corresponding author), Lindsay M Orchowski (0000-0001-9048-3576, Adult Outpatient Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA), Lindsay Orchowski, Anna Harrison (0000-0002-1673-8486, John Brown University), Abigail Harrison (0000-0003-1938-5513, Brown University School of Public Health), Alan D Berkowitz (0000-0002-6390-2680), Alan Berkowitz (Alan Berkowitz Consulting), Catherine Mathews (0000-0001-5368-1127, South African Medical Research Council), Caroline Kuo (0000-0002-2009-0504, Brown University School of Public Health)
Year2025
Volume37
Issue5
Pages768-779
Publication date2025-05-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAIDS Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0954-0121 • E-ISSN: 1360-0451
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09540121.2025.2464627
PMID40063781
OpenAlexW4408293828
LanguageEN
References cited40

Social norms, particularly those pertaining to gender equity, can shape attitudes and behaviors that contribute to adolescent sexual violence (SV). This study examines personal attitudes and perceived peer norms regarding gender equity and associations with perpetration of SV among 100 South Africans aged 13-17 in 2019. We assessed: (1) sexual activity and SV behaviors and (2) personal attitudes and perceived peer norms around gender equity. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and logistic regressions examined associations between attitudes, norms, and SV, adjusting for demographics. Findings reveal that 59% of sexually active adolescents reported perpetrating SV behaviors, though only 8% classified their actions as "rape". Adolescents endorsed more gender equitable personal attitudes compared to their perceptions of peers, highlighting a misperception of social norms. Differences in gender equitable attitudes by biological sex and perpetration status were minimal, however, males and those reporting perpetration were more likely to endorse specific inequitable gender attitudes. Number of lifetime sexual partners was significantly associated with SV perpetration, particularly among males. An age-sex interaction revealed opposing trends - older age was associated with reduced odds of SV perpetration among males but increased odds among females. Correcting misperceived norms is a promising strategy for SV prevention among South African adolescents

Criminology · Developmental psychology · Peer review · Perception · Political science · Sexual violence · Social norms approach · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Psychology

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