Examining the influence of denial, motivation, and risk on sexual recidivism

Sex Abuse. 2010 Mar;22(1):78-94. doi: 10.1177/1079063209358106.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between denial, motivation, static risk (Risk Matrix 2000), and sexual recidivism. Denial was measured in three ways: A Denial Index (resulting from the combination of several measures of different aspects of denial), Absolute Denial, and Denial of Risk. Motivation for treatment was also examined. Logistic regression analyses in a sample of 180 sex offenders using a fixed 10-year follow-up found that risk moderated the relationships between the Denial Index, Absolute Denial, and sexual recidivism. In particular, among high-risk offenders, denial predicted decreased sexual recidivism. An opposite pattern was observed for the low-risk offenders who were in denial, although these differences were not significant. In terms of Denial of Risk, those who were denying they presented a future risk for offending (i.e., higher on Denial of Risk) were less likely to reoffend than those who reported seeing themselves as presenting a high risk. Motivation for treatment was positively correlated with recidivism, but the effect disappeared once static risk was controlled.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / epidemiology
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology*
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / rehabilitation
  • Criminals / psychology*
  • Criminals / statistics & numerical data
  • Denial, Psychological*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forensic Psychiatry / methods
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Prisoners / psychology*
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data
  • Regression Analysis
  • Research Design
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Secondary Prevention
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology