NCJ Number
215800
Journal
Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: 2005 Pages: 1-18
Date Published
2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study compared the nature and extent of coercion, violence, and physical injury among older, mid-age, and younger sexual assault victims.
Abstract
Results indicated that older (55 years or older) sexual assault victims were more likely to be living alone at the time of the attack, to be assaulted in their homes, to have higher rates of vulnerabilities such as psychiatric and cognitive disabilities, and to require ambulance involvement. Younger (15 to 30 years) sexual assault victims were more likely to be attacked with weapons, but the use of physical violence and restraint was equally likely among all three age groups, as was the presence of physical trauma and vaginal penetration. The findings suggest a relationship between certain sexual assault characteristics and the age status of the victim. The findings also support the results of previous research indicating that older women’s vulnerability to sexual assault may be due to their social and demographic isolation as well as their cognitive disabilities. Data were drawn from a database containing information on sexual assault victims who presented for assessment or treatment at the hospital-based Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) in Ontario, Canada. Data were drawn on 212 female sexual assault victims who presented at SACC between the years 1992 and 2002. Chi-square and analysis of variance calculations were used to compare three groups of victims: women 55 years and older at the time of the attack (older victims), women between the ages of 31 and 54 years at the time of the attack (mid-age victims), and women between the ages of 15 to 30 years at the time of the attack. Five main variables were under analysis: (1) client characteristics; (2) presentation and service delivery characteristics; (3) sexual assault characteristics; (4) coercion; and (5) physical injuries. Future research should focus on increasing the social and personal recognition of the seriousness of sexual assaults. Tables, references