Further evidence for a relationship between attachment insecurity and coercive sexual behavior in nonoffenders

To replicate and extend the findings of a previous study examining attachme nt insecurity and coercive sexual behavior in nonoffenders, a new cohort of 119 male undergraduate students completed self-report measures of childhoo d maternal and paternal attachment, adult attachment, antisociality, aggres sion, and coercive sexual behavior: Consistent with earlier findings, insec ure childhood attachment was significantly associated with coercive sexual behavior accounting for an additional (although nonsignificant) proportion of variance after antisociality and aggression were statistically controlle d In contrast with earlier findings, maternal avoidant attachment rather th an paternal avoidant attachment emerged as an important predictor of coerci ve sexual behavior: Examination of more specific aspects of childhood attac hment revealed that insecure patterns of both maternal and paternal attachm ent were associated with coercive sexual behavior independently of aggressi on and antisociality. Adult attachment avoidance was found to be associated with coercive sexual behavior; and adult attachment anxiety was found to b e associated with antisociality and aggression.