
Research view
Title: | Harassment-related maladaptive cognitions in a sample of Mansoura University students, Egypt |
Author: | Salwa Tobar, Eman Elsheshtawy and Hala Taha |
Abstract: |
Background
Despite being a common problem with many psychiatric consequences, sexual
harassment is an under-researched topic. The psychiatric consequences are reported
to be related to the way the victim perceives different aspects of the situation. Hence,
for cognitive behavior therapy, identification of maladaptive cognitions is of prime
importance. Because of the scarcity of data on this topic in our culture, the current
preliminary descriptive study aimed at identifying some cognitions about sexual
harassment from female victims and their male peers (including harassers), reflecting
the cultural views that have an impact on the victim’s reaction and the offender’s
attitude.
Materials and methods
A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was specially designed and distributed
online and personally among Mansoura University students. A total of 390 male and
354 female students responded.
Results
A significantly higher percentage of female students reported the presence of the
problem, the presence of physical harassment, and described it as a serious problem.
Regarding the causal attribution of sexual harassment, the most commonly reported
cause by male students was the provocative dress of female students, although this
factor was cited as a minor factor by female students. The main factor attributed
by female students was decreased religious and moral values of the harasser. The
significantly predominant feeling among male students (if their sisters had been
harassed) was anger. Among female students, the most frequent feelings were disgust
and insecurity. Aggression was clearly evident among female students in the form of
a wish to hit or kill (61%) or at least curse (10%) the harasser. According to prior
records, some of these cognitions can be potentially maladaptive but this must be
verified through further research correlating them with different psychopathologies.
Keywords:
dysfunctional thoughts, harassment, maladaptive cognitions, university students
|
Journal: | Middle East Current Psychiatry 2015, 22:171–177 |
Text: | |
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