Research has indicated that sexual assault on college campuses is pervasive (Koss, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987) and that a history of sexual victimization serves as a risk factor for future victimization (Gidycz, Coble, Latham, & Layman, 1993). The purpose of the present investigation was to extend the findings of Gidycz et al. (1993) in examining the link among sexual victimization experiences. College women were evaluated for child and adolescent sexual victimization, family adjustment, alcohol use, psychological adjustment, interpersonal functioning, and sexual behavior. Women were reevaluated at 3, 5–6, and 9 months for adult victimization, psychological adjustment, interpersonal functioning, and sexual behavior. Loglinear analysis indicated that chances of being victimized in one time period increased with greater severity of victimization in the preceding time period. The path analysis assessing the mediating effects of these variables on victimization experiences was partially supported. Implications for future research and preventative efforts are discussed.

Several retrospective investigations of sexual assault have assessed the Over the past 20 years, research has substantiated the finding that sexual aggression against women is pervasive in our society (Burnam et al., 1988; KOSS, Gidycz, & Wisniewski, 1987). For example, in the Los Angeles epidemiologic catchment area study, Sorenson, Stein, Siegel, Golding, We thank Bruce Carlson, who assisted with data analyses. ment of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701. Published by Cambridge University Press 0361-6843193 $5.00 + .OO

Investigators of sexual assault have found that a substantial number of women who have been raped do not conceptualize their experiences as such. The present investigation examined differences between 40 unacknowledged rape victims and 20 women who acknowledged their experience as rape in a sample of college women, as well as a control group of 23 nonvictims. Groups were compared in terms of situational factors, postassault symptomatology, defense mechanisms, dissociative disorders, and sexual revictimization. In comparison to unacknowledged victims, acknowledged victims reported more forceful assaults and indicated more resistance and clearer refusal. Acknowledged victims exhibited more posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms than unacknowledged victims, who exhibited more symptoms than nonvictims, as measured by clinical interview. Implications of these findings are discussed.

The field of psychology has only recently begun to recognize the extent and impact of professional impairment of its members, whereas several other professions have established formal identification and treatment plans for impaired colleagues. Impairment in psychologists may be caused by various factors, but it has the same result: diminished levels of care and, frequently, ethics violations. Sexual contact with clients is considered in particular. Several alternate avenues for remediation exist, including mandatory psychotherapy for ethics offenders. Although the majority of psychologists value personal therapy for training purposes, it is the authors' opinion that mandated therapy is not an appropriate form of rehabilitation for such violations of the ethics code.Impairment has been defined as "interference in professional functioning due to chemical dependency, mental illness, or personal conflict" (Laliotis & Grayson, 1985, p. 84). For example, the Ohio Administrative Code (Ch. 4731-16, 1993) describes physician impairment as ' 'impairment of ability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care" (p. 48). Impairment, an "objective change in ... professional functioning" (Schwebel, Skorina, & Schoener, 1994, p. 2), may or may not be accompanied by distress, the "subjective sense that something is wrong" (Nathan, 1986, p. 27). Professional impairment in the form of burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion) may result in a loss of empathy and positive feelings for clients (Skorupa & Agresti, 1993). As Keith-Spiegel and Koocher (1985) noted, many instances exist in which professional impairment is translated into ethical violations. Several professions, including medicine, dentistry, nursing, law, and social work, have established formal methods for the recognition and treatment of impaired professionals, whereas psychology has only begun to address these issues within the past decade (V.

The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a sexual assault prevention program on college students' rape-related attitudes and experiences with sexual aggression and victimization. Attitudes and sexual aggression and victimization experiences were assessed both prior to the program and 9 weeks following the program. Results suggested that program participants evidenced less rape myth acceptance at posttest than the comparison group. The program, however, did not have a significant effect on attitudes toward women, rape empathy, or rates of sexual aggression or victimization. Participants rated the program highly, although they did not find the information personally relevant. Implications of these findings for preventative efforts are discussed.