Psychosocial Impacts of Image-Based Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review

• In Event: Technology-Facilitated Victimization: Risks and Long-Term Harms

Abstract

Image-based sexual assault (IBSA), which is a form of technology-facilitated sexual violence, encompasses the nonconsensual dissemination, production, and manufacture of sexual content (e.g., images, videos), as well as threats to disseminate this content. While many studies have investigated the harmful effects of IBSA victimization, there is a need to synthesize these findings and outline remaining gaps within the research literature. As such, this systematic review strives to examine the current state of the literature exploring IBSA impacts, focusing on the psychological, behavioral, and social impacts to victims. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) to identify relevant articles, findings identified multiple negative impacts associated with experiencing IBSA victimization (i.e., depression, suicidality) and that these effects are similar for those who experience offline sexual violence. Implications for research, theory, policy, and practice are discussed.

Authors

• Roberta Liggett O'Malley, University of South Florida

• Jennifer Ayerza, George Mason University

• Marlena Bolton, University of South Florida

• Kylie Colavito, University of South Florida