by rbartels | Jun 30, 2022 | Publications
Current MSc student, Megan Hartley, has recently published a study in the Sexual Abuse journal with Ross Bartels. The experimental study was focused on public attitudinal judgments of men who have committed child sexual abuse (CSA), specifically whether the relationship between the child and adult, as well as the degree of relational proximity, affected these judgments.
Hartley, M., & Bartels, R. M. (2022). Public perception of men who have committed intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual offences against children. Sexual Abuse, 10790632211062188.
Abstract
This study examined whether the attitudinal responses toward child sexual abuse (CSA) differ due to the person’s relationship with the victim (intrafamilial vs. extrafamilial) and/or proximity to the victim (close vs. distant). An online sample of 292 participants completed a measure assessing pre-existing attitudes toward people who commit sexual offenses, before being randomly presented with a vignette describing a CSA case committed by a biological father, biological uncle, babysitter, stranger, or stepfather. Participants then rated the perpetrator’s level of dangerousness and pedophilic interest, their own feelings of disgust, and their punitive judgments. Controlling for pre-existing attitudes, the extrafamilial cases (stranger and babysitter) were perceived to be more dangerous (large effects; ds > .50) and more pedophilic than the stepfather (large effects; ds > .60). Also, participants reported greater levels of disgust toward the stranger than both the babysitter and uncle (medium effects; ds > .30). The findings demonstrate the need to account for the established heterogeneity of men who commit CSA when studying the public’s attitudinal responses. Methodological limitations and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
by rbartels | Jun 30, 2022 | Funding Success
In March 2022, FCRG members Todd Hogue, Lauren Smith, and Rachael Mason, along Niko Kargas (from the School of Psychology) and Jim Rogers (from the School of Health and Social Care) were awarded just under £60,000 to conduct an Independent Review of Services for Adults with a Learning Disability and Autistic Adults in Midland’s prisons.
In addition to the review, the team will be working with Electric Egg to adopt creative methods to disseminate findings in a suitable and accessible format for prisons.
by rbartels | Jun 30, 2022 | Other
In March, Ross Bartels was invited to be an Editor-in-Chief for the journal ‘Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention‘ (SOTRAP).
SOTRAP is the official journal of the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offending (IATSO).
by rbartels | Jun 30, 2022 | Publications
In March 2022, Rachael Mason, Amanda Roberts, and Todd Hogue (along with several other colleagues) published a paper entitled “Ambulance attendance for substance and/or alcohol use in a pandemic: : Interrupted time series analysis of incidents” in Drug and Alcohol Review journal.
Abstract
Introduction
The ambulance attendance for substance and/or alcohol use in a pandemic (ASAP) study explores incidents during the COVID-19 lockdown in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom (23 March–4 July 2020).
Method
Retrospective cross-sectional count per day of ambulance attendances from the East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust. Ambulance attendances relating to alcohol or other drug use in the year prior, during lockdown and weeks following, were examined using interrupted time series analysis by patient demographics and geographical location.
Results
A total of 36 104 records were identified (53.7% male, 84.5% ethnicity classified as White, mean age 38.4 years). A significant drop in the number of attendances per day at the start of lockdown (−25.24, confidence interval − 38.16, −12.32) was observed, followed by a gradual increase during the ongoing lockdown period (0.36, confidence interval 0.23, 0.46). Similar patterns were found across genders, age groups 16–64 and urban/rural locations.
Discussion and Conclusion
The pattern of ambulance attendances for alcohol or other drug use changed during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Lockdown significantly affected the use of ambulances for incidents involving alcohol or other drug use, impacting on health-care services. Further research into hazardous use of alcohol or other drugs during the lockdown periods is needed to inform policy, planning and public health initiatives.
by rbartels | Jun 30, 2022 | Publications
In March 2022, Amanda Roberts and colleagues published a paper in ‘Addictive Behaviors’ entitled Predictors of suicide attempts in male UK gamblers seeking residential treatment.
Abstract
Background
Disordered gambling can have serious negative consequences for the individual and those around them. Previous research has indicated that disordered gamblers are at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, ideation and attempts. The current study sought to utilise data from a clinical sample to identify factors that are associated with prior suicide attempts.
Methods
The sample included 621 patients entering a gambling-specific residential facility in the UK. A series of Chi-Square analyses and binary logistic regressions were run to identify clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with suicide attempts.
Results
Of the 20 variables analysed using Chi-square statistics, five were significantly associated with the outcome variable (lifetime attempted suicide): loss of family relationships, loss of home, prior depression, prior suicidal thoughts, and medication use. Regression analysis showed that individuals were more likely to have reported suicide attempts if they had experienced loss of family relationships (1.65 times), loss of a home (1.87 times), prior depression (3.2 times), prior suicidal thoughts (6.14 times), or were taking medication (1.95 times) compared to those not reporting such individual events.
Conclusions
Disordered gamblers are vulnerable to suicide; a number of factors have been identified in the current study that predict an increased likelihood of attempted suicide. The factors mainly revolve around loss: not financial loss, but rather disintegration of an individual’s support network and deterioration in the individual’s mental health. Findings indicate that isolation and negative affect associated with gambling are most influential in attempted suicide and should therefore be more strongly considered when creating and providing the legislative, educational and treatment environments for those experiencing gambling related harm.
