The Role of Dysfunctional Sexual Beliefs and Sexual Self-Esteem in Sexual Aggression: A Study with Male College Students.

This study aimed to understand how the endorsement of dysfunctional sexual beliefs is associated with sexual self-esteem and sexually aggressive behavior in male college students; it further tested the mediating role of sexual self-esteem in the relationship between sexual beliefs and sexual aggression. Results revealed significant relationships between dysfunctional sexual beliefs and sexual aggression; even so, no mediating effects were found. Findings suggest that students' beliefs about sexuality, namely, a conservative pattern of sexual beliefs, work as predisposing factors for sexual aggression. The current results add to the knowledge on the preventive targets regarding sexual offending behavior in community samples.