U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Effect of Victim Attitudes and Behaviors on Sexual Assault Victimization Severity: An Examination of University Women

NCJ Number
231381
Journal
Women and Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2010 Pages: 239-262
Author(s)
Cortney A. Franklin
Date Published
July 2010
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study examined violence against women and college campus sexual assault in particular.
Abstract
The current study investigates a number of theoretically relevant victim characteristics to determine their impact on sexual assault victimization severity. Ordinary least squares regression analysis of survey responses from a sample of 204 university women indicated significant relationships between many of the variables of interest and increases in victimization severity. In particular, risk-taking behavior, delayed victim response strategies to sexual risk, increased number of lifetime sexual partners, and more frequent exposure to pornographic media significantly correlated with increasingly more severe forms of sexual assault. Future research directions and policy implications are discussed. Tables, notes, references, and appendix (Published Abstract)