To Whom Do College Women Confide Following Sexual Assault? A Prospective Study of Predictors of Sexual Assault Disclosure and Social Reactions

• NCJ Number: 239735
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2012 Pages: 264-288
• Author(s): Lindsay M. Orchowski; Christine A. Gidycz
• Date Published: March 2012
• Length: 25 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1 R49 CE0009239
• Sponsoring Agency: Ctr's for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined factors that facilitate victims of sexual assault to disclose the assault.

Abstract

A prospective methodology was used to explore predictors of sexual assault disclosure among college women, identify who women tell about sexual victimization, and examine the responses of informal support providers (N = 374). Women most often confided in a female peer. Increased coping via seeking emotional support, strong attachments, and high tendency to disclose stressful information predicted adolescent sexual assault disclosure and disclosure over the 7-month interim. Less acquaintance with the perpetrator predicted disclosure over the follow-up, including experiences of revictimization. Victim and perpetrator alcohol use at the time of the assault also predicted disclosure over the follow-up. Implications are presented. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.