NCJ Number
224700
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 14 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 1326-1348
Date Published
November 2008
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study explored the issue of nondisclosure to parents among 18 women who experienced attempted and completed sexual assault.
Abstract
Findings reveal that the behaviors and attitudes of parents around discussing sexuality create a powerful climate that may influence what, if anything, young women reveal to their parents about their sexual experiences, including rape. The results suggest a relationship between the quality of sexuality messages and disclosure of sexual assault, specifically messages that promote or inhibit discussion. Women who received inhibiting messages generally did not disclose to parents. Additionally, the sexuality messages received in the home may moderate the impact of community or societal level messages, and future research should explore the possibility. Findings support the idea that the absence of a comfortable context in which to discuss sexuality may deter women from disclosing sexual assault. Consequently, women who do not disclose rape may use alternate coping strategies that could undermine their recovery, such as avoidance, which may result in increased psychological symptoms. Data were collected from 18 female students enrolled in a psychology course at a large, urban, southeastern university and who were screened for sexual assault, a history of other traumatic life events, and psychological measures to assess self-concealment tendencies, social anxiety, and social desirability. Table, note, and references