Relationships matter: Differences in sexual assault characteristics associated with the relationship between perpetrator and victim

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Pierce ◽  
Rhiana Wegner ◽  
Antonia Abbey
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Assault Characteristics

Shameful “Victims” and Angry “Survivors”: Emotion, Mental Health, and Labeling Sexual Assault

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin M. Boyle ◽  
Jody Clay-Warner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cultural Discourses ◽  
Undergraduate Women ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Assault Characteristics

Decades of research demonstrate that women frequently avoid the label “rape” when reflecting on nonconsensual sexual experiences. The current study focuses on self-labels to further understand the relationship between assault characteristics, emotion, mental health, and women’s labeling of sexual assault. We argue that emotions produced by various assault characteristics are important mechanisms for understanding self-labeling after a sexual assault. We draw from research on rape scripts and cultural discourses of victimhood, survivorhood, and emotion to examine labeling “rape” and self-labeling as a “victim” or “survivor” in an online survey of 138 undergraduate women at a southeastern university. Using a series of ordinal logistic regressions in which labels are regressed on emotions and measures of mental health, we find that the “victim” label is associated with shame and post-traumatic stress, while the “survivor” label is associated with anger and less depression.

The Relationship Between Participants' Perceptions of a Sexual Assault Prevention Program and Outcome

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine A. Gidycz ◽  
Steven J. Lynn ◽  
Joanna Pashdag ◽  
Catherine Loh ◽  
Cindy Dowdall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Sexual Assault Prevention ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Assault Prevention

New Perspectives on Risk Factors for Non-fatal Strangulation and Post-assault Imaging

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052096667
Author(s):  
Grace B. McKee ◽  
Kathy Gill-Hopple ◽  
Daniel W. Oesterle ◽  
Leah E. Daigle ◽  
Amanda K. Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Bodily Injury ◽  
Weapon Use ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
Assault Characteristics

Strangulation has long been associated with death in the context of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV). Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) during sexual assault, which refers to strangulation or choking that does not result in death, is common and has been associated with IPV and with bodily injury; however, other factors associated with NFS are unknown. The current study examined demographic and sexual assault characteristics associated with NFS among women who received a sexual assault medical forensic exam (SAMFE). A second purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with receiving follow-up imaging orders after NFS was identified during a SAMFE. Participants ( N = 882) ranged in age from 18 to 81 ( M = 28.85), with the majority identifying as non-Hispanic White (70.4%) or Black/African American (23.4%). A total of 75 women (8.5%) experienced NFS during the sexual assault. Of these, only 13 (17.3%) received follow-up imaging orders for relevant scans. Results from a logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NFS was positively associated with report of anal penetration, intimate partner perpetration, non-genital injury, and weapon use during the assault. Results from chi-square analysis showed that among sexual assaults involving women who experienced NFS, those whose assaults involved weapon use were over four times more likely to receive imaging orders compared to assaults without weapon use. These findings have implications for criminal justice, and if incorporated into danger assessments, could potentially reduce fatalities linked to sexual assault and/or IPV. Additional work is needed to ensure that all assaults with NFS trigger a referral for imaging regardless of other assault characteristics.

Sexual Assault and Students With Disabilities

2019 ◽  
pp. 588-611
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Gibbon ◽  
Nicole Taylor ◽  
Elyse R. Scheckler ◽  
Michelle Stagmer ◽  
David F. Bateman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Forced Sterilization ◽  
Disability Categories ◽  
Specific Disability ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Ongoing Monitoring

This chapter reviews the special vulnerabilities of students with disabilities to sexual assault. The relationship between the characteristics of specific disability categories and the delivery system that is special education is explored. Historical and philosophical trends such as institutionalization, forced sterilization, and the Eugenics Movement that created the environment for sexual abuse of students with disabilities are discussed. The authors provide a case study about a recent sexual assault and a discussion of the Willowbrook institution where well documented sexual abuse of people with disabilities took place. Age and disability specific sex education, teacher training, and ongoing monitoring are recommended to improve the safety of some of our most vulnerable students.

Impaired and Incapacitated Rape Victims: Assault Characteristics and Post-Assault Experiences

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Littleton ◽  
Amie Grills-Taquechel ◽  
Danny Axsom
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Rape Victims ◽  
Self Blame ◽  
Problematic Alcohol ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Problematic Alcohol Use ◽  
Assault Characteristics

Alcohol is the most common “rape drug,” with up to two-thirds of victims consuming alcohol prior to the assault. Surprisingly, little research has examined the assault and postassault experiences of victims who were impaired or incapacitated as a result of substance use, including alcohol, during a rape. Thus, the current study evaluated the assault and postassault experiences of a sample of 340 nonimpaired, impaired, and incapacitated college rape victims. Results supported that these three groups differed in several assault characteristics, including threats by the assailant, resistance by the victim, and relationship with the assailant. In addition, impairment and incapacitation were associated with several postassault factors, including self-blame, stigma, and problematic alcohol use. Results also highlighted similarities in victims’ experiences, including levels of postassault distress. Implications of the findings for future research investigating impaired and incapacitated sexual assault victims are discussed.

The Association Between Sexually Aggressive Cognitions and Pathological Personality Traits in Men

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1636-1655
Author(s):  
Amanda E. Kasowski ◽  
Jaime L. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Sexual Aggression ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Victim Blaming ◽  
Sexually Aggressive ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Aggressive Cognitions ◽  
Societal Problems ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Pathological Personality Traits

Sexual aggression, harassment, and sexually aggressive cognitions (victim blaming, sexual entitlement) are serious societal problems. Although research has examined attributes of individuals who engage in overt sexual assault, few studies have focused on individual characteristics of those who perpetuate problematic negative beliefs surrounding sexual assault. This study sought to examine the relationship between pathological personality and sexually aggressive cognitions among 242 community men. Results showed that traits including antagonism, disinhibition, and negative affectivity were associated with sexually aggressive cognitions. These results have implications for understanding sexual aggression and the role personality plays in perpetuating sexually aggressive attitudes.

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