Exploratory analyses were conducted to investigate sex differences in any significant interaction findings. There were no significant findings from the three‐way interaction (fluid intelligence PGS × nonsexual assaultive trauma × sex), but a main effect of sex showed female participants had longer response times and fewer errors, while male participants had shorter response times and more errors. This suggests an impairment in response inhibition in men, but not women. These findings are consistent with the literature that suggests women have greater inhibitory control than men (Mansouri et al. 2016; Sjoberg and Cole 2018). Enhanced inhibitory control has been associated with avoidance symptoms in disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (Grillon et al. 2017). Further, women are more likely to be diagnosed with these disorders (Bandelow and Michaelis 2015). However, impaired inhibitory control has been associated with impulsive behavior and addiction, which are observed more in males (Mansouri et al. 2016). The results from the current study and from previous research demonstrate the importance of considering sex differences when investigating response inhibition.
