A Prospective Analysis Of The Relationships Among Sexual Assault Experiences: An Extension of Previous Findings

Abstract

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.

The Impact of Sexual Assault History on Perceived Consequences of Risky Dating Scenarios

“…This scale possesses strong convergent validity with interview measures [32]. In regard to severity, previous research has classified participants who endorse only acts of exposure and/or touching during childhood as moderate, while threatened or completed intercourse has been classified as severe [31].…”

“…The SES was used to assess for SAH occurring at 14 years or older. Previous research has proposed severity cut-offs for this scale, dividing types of assaults into moderate and severe categories [31]. Moderate events in adulthood included pressured or forced fondling, kissing, or petting (but not intercourse), as well as intercourse that results from coercion, but not physical force.…”

Nudity as a Disinhibiting Cue in a Date Rape Analogue

“…A meta-analysis conducted by Roodman and Clumb (2001) suggests a significant positive relationship between childhood victimization and adult victimization experiences. Gidycz et al (1995) further suggested a significant positive relationship between the severity of past sexual abuse and an increased risk of future victimization.…”

“…In a follow-up study, Gidycz, Hanson, and Layman (1995) used the same design as Gidycz et al (1993) to investigate the relationship between one's experiences of sexual aggression and the mediating effects of psychological adjustment. In this study, the mediating factors were expanded to include interpersonal functioning, alcohol use, family functioning, and sexual behaviours.…”

“…With the stress of their home environments, it is not surprising that these women had weak family support systems throughout their childhoods, often with one or both of the parents having a history of drug and alcohol problems and poor mental health (Ellis et al, 1982;Grauerholz, 2000;Gidycz et al, 1995). Although there is much research into the childhood histories of women who have been victims of sexual aggression, not all women who experience these childhoods later become victims.…”