Sexism, Just-World Beliefs, and Defensive Attribution: Relationship to Online Discourse and Child Sexual Abuse

Sexism, Just-World Beliefs, and Defensive Attribution: Relationship to Online Discourse and Child Sexual Abuse by Andrea M. Barbis, LCSW-R MSW, Arizona State University, 1998 BA, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1996 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Psychology Walden University November 2018 Abstract Research has shown that individuals’ willingness to believe a disclosure of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is related to just-world beliefs, ambivalent sexism, and defensive attribution. However, researchers do not know whether these variables relate to posts made in response to online articles describing CSA. Negative or disbelieving posts may impact not only the author, but also readers who view these comments via hindrance of disclosures, increased self-blame, and avoidance of help seeking. In this quantitative study, just-world, ambivalent sexism, and defensive attribution theories provided the theoretical basis used to determine whether just-world beliefs, ambivalent sexism, and defensive attribution influenced comments made in response to an online article about CSA disclosure. Eight-hundred twenty participants read the article where the author discloses she was sexually abused as a child. Response comments were coded negative, neutral, or positive. Participants also completed demographic questions, the Global Belief in a Just World Scale, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, and questions regarding their similarity to the offender and victim. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed relationships between negative posts and hostile sexism, perceived similarity to the perpetrator, frequent involvement in online discourse, and, to a lesser extent, belief in a just world. Parenthood and perceived similarity to the author increased one’s odds of posting positively. Responses of CSA survivors resulted in unexpected findings. Study findings may be used to challenge stereotypes and vitriol often used to silence survivors in public discourse, for thought challenging in psychotherapeutic settings, and for future public education and research to increase support for CSA survivors.Research has shown that individuals’ willingness to believe a disclosure of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is related to just-world beliefs, ambivalent sexism, and defensive attribution. However, researchers do not know whether these variables relate to posts made in response to online articles describing CSA. Negative or disbelieving posts may impact not only the author, but also readers who view these comments via hindrance of disclosures, increased self-blame, and avoidance of help seeking. In this quantitative study, just-world, ambivalent sexism, and defensive attribution theories provided the theoretical basis used to determine whether just-world beliefs, ambivalent sexism, and defensive attribution influenced comments made in response to an online article about CSA disclosure. Eight-hundred twenty participants read the article where the author discloses she was sexually abused as a child. Response comments were coded negative, neutral, or positive. Participants also completed demographic questions, the Global Belief in a Just World Scale, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, and questions regarding their similarity to the offender and victim. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed relationships between negative posts and hostile sexism, perceived similarity to the perpetrator, frequent involvement in online discourse, and, to a lesser extent, belief in a just world. Parenthood and perceived similarity to the author increased one’s odds of posting positively. Responses of CSA survivors resulted in unexpected findings. Study findings may be used to challenge stereotypes and vitriol often used to silence survivors in public discourse, for thought challenging in psychotherapeutic settings, and for future public education and research to increase support for CSA survivors. Sexism, Just World Beliefs, and Defensive Attribution: Relationship to Online Discourse and Child Sexual Abuse by Andrea M. Barbis MSW, Arizona State University, 1998 BA, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1996 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy General Psychology Walden University November 2018 Dedication This work is dedicated to the memory of my mother who, despite her intelligence and love of reading was told by a high school guidance counselor there was no reason for her to attend college as she had no desire to be a nurse, a teacher, or a secretary. She also introduced me to MS magazine as a child in the late 1970s, reading me the version of Jack and Jill where Jill continues on to “complete her duties as assigned. ” Acknowledgements Many people deserve recognition for support through this process. My children, Kinley, Calder (as well and their father and stepmother for their flexibility and assistance with scheduling), and Tiernan have sacrificed time in order for me to complete this process. My husband, Matthew Covert, has tolerated my emotional up and downs during this journey as well as my disengagement from household activities. Tremendous appreciation is extended to Cynthia Stilloe Hollenbeck, MFA, for her endeavors in editing this dissertation as well as volunteering to be a coder for the response comments. I am likewise indebted to Daniele Wagstaff, RN, MS, and Carolyn Harding, LCSW-R for the time and effort they both spent in coding the response comment data. My deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Tracy Marsh for agreeing to take me on as her student, perhaps not knowing to depths to what she was signing on for, since, as we have discussed, complication is something I tend to gravitate toward. I have appreciated her patience and support through my struggles and progress. I have also been fortunate to have had Dr. Hanania as my second committee member and a positive force behind me in this endeavor. I also want to thank Dr. Salzer in serving as URR reviewer, Dr, Sickel for her role as program director as well as accepting me into her independent research course years ago, and Dr. Hicks for his role in a time sensitive review.