GHB, Chemsex and Chemical Submission: Investigating the Role of Sexuality on Victim Empathy and Blame Attribution in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault against Men

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cris.lastimport.scopus2026-10-05T03:18:13Z
dc.abstract.enLiterature is sparse regarding men’s attitudes towards male sexual assault and the role that the sexuality of those involved may have. Despite the high prevalence of chemsex and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) participation among men who have sex with men, no study has yet investigated attitudes towards such. Utilising a community sample of 141 UK men, participants were randomly assigned into one of six conditions based on victim sexuality (heterosexual or homosexual) and the drug used present during the sexual assault (chemsex, chemical submission, or no drugs). All participants completed the Male Rape Victim and Perpetrator Blaming Scale and Victim-Blaming Empathy Scale to measure victim-blame and empathy attributions. Results of a two-way MANOVA revealed a significant difference between participant gender and empathic ratings, with heterosexual participants significantly less likely to empathise than their homosexual counterparts. A non-significant difference was observed between the conditions alongside a non-significant interaction. Nevertheless, results indicate that victims in the chemsex condition, along with heterosexual victims, encountered the greatest victim-blaming attributions and the lowest rates of participant empathy overall. Findings overall appear to indicate a general decline in victim-blame attitudes towards men who have sex with men, though a level of uncertainty was apparent among the sample. Implications and limitations of the work are discussed alongside the importance of future research and psychoeducation interventions.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii we Wrocławiu
dc.contributor.authorLee, Harrison
dc.contributor.authorLabhardt, Danielle
dc.contributor.authorWillmott, Dominic
dc.date.access2024-10-08
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-02T07:53:02Z
dc.date.available2026-10-02T07:53:02Z
dc.date.created2024-09-21
dc.date.issued2024-10-08
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>Literature is sparse regarding men’s attitudes towards male sexual assault and the role that the sexuality of those involved may have. Despite the high prevalence of chemsex and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) participation among men who have sex with men, no study has yet investigated attitudes towards such. Utilising a community sample of 141 UK men, participants were randomly assigned into one of six conditions based on victim sexuality (heterosexual or homosexual) and the drug used present during the sexual assault (chemsex, chemical submission, or no drugs). All participants completed the Male Rape Victim and Perpetrator Blaming Scale and Victim-Blaming Empathy Scale to measure victim-blame and empathy attributions. Results of a two-way MANOVA revealed a significant difference between participant gender and empathic ratings, with heterosexual participants significantly less likely to empathise than their homosexual counterparts. A non-significant difference was observed between the conditions alongside a non-significant interaction. Nevertheless, results indicate that victims in the chemsex condition, along with heterosexual victims, encountered the greatest victim-blaming attributions and the lowest rates of participant empathy overall. Findings overall appear to indicate a general decline in victim-blame attitudes towards men who have sex with men, though a level of uncertainty was apparent among the sample. Implications and limitations of the work are discussed alongside the importance of future research and psychoeducation interventions.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.issue10
dc.description.physical1-18
dc.description.sdgQualityEducation
dc.description.sdgGenderEquality
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume14
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/bs14100913
dc.identifier.issn2076-328X
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2575
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/10/913
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enmale sexual victimisation
dc.subject.enchemsex
dc.subject.engamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
dc.subject.envictim empathy
dc.subject.enblame attribution
dc.subject.envictim blame
dc.subject.enmale rape
dc.subject.ensexuality
dc.subject.enmen who have sex with men (MSM)
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleGHB, Chemsex and Chemical Submission: Investigating the Role of Sexuality on Victim Empathy and Blame Attribution in Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault against Men
dc.title.journalBehavioral Sciences
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle