The role of psychopathological symptoms in the relationship between cognitive schemas and sexual aggression: A preliminary study

SummaryEarly maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are associated with various forms of psychopathology. Available research also shows a relationship between EMSs and sexual aggression. Likewise, sexual offenders commonly present psychopathological problems, mainly emotional disorders. The aim of the present study was to compare college students with and without history of aggressive sexual behavior on psychological adjustment, as well as to explore the relationship between EMSs and sexual aggression frequency in the aggressor group, when controlling for the effect of psychopathological symptoms. A total of 165 male college students from among whom 37 reported history of sexual aggression against women completed the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Perpetration (SES-SFP), the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Results showed that the aggressor group presented significantly higher levels of psychopathological symptomatology compared to non-offenders. Furthermore, dependence/incompetence schema was positively associated with sexual aggression frequency in the aggressor group. However, this association did not remain significant after taking into account the effect of psychopathological symptoms. Overall, our preliminary findings indicate that psychopathological symptoms mediate the relationship between EMSs and sexual aggression, likely playing a trigger proximal role on the perpetration of sexual aggression.