Sexual Violence in Swedish Youth Intimate Partnerships: Prevalence, Severity, and Symptoms of Trauma

Abstract Purpose To be subjected to sexual violence by an intimate partner as a child or young person can have a negative impact on development and may cause severe consequences. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and characteristics of youth intimate partner sexual violence in Sweden. To achieve this aim, youth intimate partner sexual violence (YIPSV) was examined in relation to other forms of sexual violence that children and youth are subjected to. Methods The current study explored lifetime experiences of sexual violence in intimate partnerships in a representative sample of 3,282 Swedish youth aged 16–23 years ( M = 18.2, SD = 0.61). Results The results showed that a majority of youth subjected to sexual violence by an intimate partner were female, and the majority of perpetrators were male. One key finding was that youth intimate partner sexual violence was particularly severe compared to sexual violence perpetrated by a person or persons other than an intimate partner. Furthermore, the results showed that when youth were subjected to sexual violence by both an intimate partner and other persons, they were more often polyvictimized, with experiences of physical and psychological violence, bullying, and sexual violence online. Youth subjected to sexual violence by an intimate partner and other persons also reported the highest level of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Conclusions The study calls attention to the importance of addressing youth intimate partner sexual violence as a serious and gendered issue, highlighting girls in particular as a vulnerable and potentially polyvictimized group requiring extra attention from practitioners and scholars.