Sexual Coercion in Romantic Relationships

This study examined how sexual coercion affects relational uncertainty, relational-contingent self-esteem, and jealousy in romantic relationships. One hundred and fifty participants (N =150) who identified as being in a romantic relationship completed the survey. Cognitive jealousy was found to mediate the relationship between perpetrator coercion and self-uncertainty. Perpetrators of sexual coercion are more suspicious of their romantic partner which leads to more coercive behavior to retain the relationship. Findings suggests the need for further inquiry into how sexual coercion specifically affects one questioning the relationship, one’s partner questioning the relationship, and the definition of the relationship overall.