Women's Situational Coping with Acquaintance Sexual Assault: Applying an Appraisal-Based Model

• NCJ Number: 205969
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 10 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 450-478
• Author(s): Paula S. Nurius; Jeanette Norris; Rebecca J. Macy; Bu Huang
• Editor(s): Claire M. Renzetti
• Date Published: May 2004
• Length: 29 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH53402; 5 T32 MH20010
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study applied a theoretical framework, based on an appraisal-based coping paradigm, to modeling women’s interpretation of and behavioral responses to acquaintance sexual assault, and through the use of structural equation modeling, allowed for testing for both direct and mediated relationships in assessing fit of the data to this appraisal-based theory.

Abstract

Drawing on theories of appraisal-based coping and utilizing a sample of college women sexually assaulted by male acquaintances, this study examined women’s perception of risk and responses to sexual assault by male acquaintances. By focusing on women’s recognition of risk and response, the intent was to learn more about factors that either facilitate or impede self-protective coping and to use this knowledge to assist women in augmenting their self-protection. The study applied cognitive analysis to women’s interpretation of and responses to sexual assault threat. In addition, structural equation modeling was used to link women’s cognitive interpretation of events leading to a sexual assault and their behavioral responding. The findings provide support for a coping analysis that considers women’s situational appraisals and social context factors in explaining different forms of resistance behavior. Secondary appraisals regarding self-blame, relationship outcome concerns, personal power, and resentment about being wronged largely mediate effects from primary risk appraisals and contextual factors to behavioral resistance. It is suggested that women cope with two types of concern, relationship and safety, when faced with sexual aggression by a male acquaintance which can affect the type of resistance that a woman employs in such situations. In summary, the study provides initial evidence supporting appraisal-based coping theory as a framework to help unpack women’s cognitive and emotional responding when faced with acquaintance sexual aggression. References