To examine effects of childhood abuse on adult rape, 1,887 female Navy recruits were surveyed. Overall 35% of recruits had been raped and 57% had experienced childhood physical abuse (CPA) and/or childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Controlling for CPA, rape was significantly (4.8 times) more likely among women who had experienced CSA than among women who had not. In contrast, CPA (controlling for CSA) was unrelated to likelihood of adult rape. Alcohol problems and number of sex partners were examined as mediators. Although both variables predicted rape, their effects were independent of the effects of CSA. Finally, despite ethnic group differences in the prevalence of victimization, the predictors of rape did not differ significantly across ethnic groups.

U.S. Navy recruits (n = 3,776) were surveyed for premilitary histories of adult sexual assault. They completed a survey designed to estimate rates for experiences as victims (women) and perpetrators (men) of attempted and completed rape since the age of 14. The results show that 45.5% of the women reported being the victim of attempted (9.4%) or completed rape (36.1%) before entering the Navy. Male recruits' self-reports indicated that 14.8% admitted perpetrating attempted (3.5%) or completed rape (11.3%) before entering the Navy. A high percentage of recruits in this study reported histories of sexual assault. Female victims of sexual assault are at high risk of incurring somatic and/or psychological problems that require treatment by health care professionals. Male perpetrators of sexual assault are at high risk of repeating their behavior. The results of this study suggest that it may be cost-effective to develop treatment education, and prevention programs for military recruits.

Lower response rates are a trend affecting both military and civilian surveys. The Navy Equal Opportunity/Sexual Harassment (NEOSH) Survey obtained a response rate of 60% in 1989; by 1999, the rate had fallen to 30%. This study was conducted to determine reasons for the low response rate and to obtain suggestions on how to mitigate this issue on future surveys. A follow-up survey was administered to a random sample of those selected for the 1999 NEOSH Survey. The top 3 reasons for not completing surveys were a belief that surveys have no impact, general apathy toward surveys, and survey length. Suggestions for increasing response rates included providing feedback, increasing command involvement, shortening survey length, and providing incentives. When the responses of those who said they completed the NEOSH Survey were compared to those who indicated they did not, the responses of the two groups were similar for attitudinal items. However, completers endorsed factual items assessing attendance at EO-related training more than noncompleters did.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is asnimated Io average I hour per response, induding the oie fo rev ing instructions, searcng sidstin data bourcee, gatiering and maintaining the data needed, and compveng end rewlewng the coNedlon of Informaton.

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