NCJ Number
59587
Journal
Journal of Abnormal Psychology Volume: 88 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 101-105
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A RETROSPECTIVE QUESTIONNAIRE COVERING 23 SEX-RELATED ACTIVITIES WAS USED TO COMPARE 15 ADULT FEMALE ANGLO RAPE VICTIMS WITH 15 NONVICTIMIZED CONTROLS, TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF RAPE ON SEXUAL SATISFACTION.
Abstract
THE VICTIMS RANGED FROM 19 TO 55 YEARS OF AGE, WITH A MEAN OF 27.7 YEARS AND A MEDIAN OF 26.0 YEARS. NONVICTIMS RANGED FROM 20 TO 55 YEARS, WITH A MEAN OF 30.5 AND A MEDIAN OF 29.0. RAPE WAS DEFINED ACCORDING TO WASHINGTON STATE LAWS, AND INCLUDED FORCED VAGINAL, ORAL, OR ANAL INTERCOURSE. COMPARISONS WERE MADE BETWEEN VICTIMS' SEXUAL SATISFACTION BEFORE THE RAPE AND 1 WEEK AND 2 MONTHS AFTER THE RAPE, AND BETWEEN VICTIMS' AND NONVICTIMS' CURRENT AND PAST SEXUAL SATISFACTION. VICTIMS' SEXUAL SATISFACTION WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SEX-RELATED ACTIVITIES DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FOLLOWING THE RAPE, ALTHOUGH AUTOEROTIC AND PRIMARILY AFFECTIONAL EXPERIENCES WERE APPARENTLY NOT AFFECTED. ALTHOUGH THE TWO GROUPS DID NOT DIFFER IN FREQUENCY OF VARIOUS SEXUAL ACTIVITIES OR ORGASMS, RAPE VICTIMS REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CURRENT SEXUAL SATISFACTION THAN NONVICTIMS. TIME LAPSE BETWEEN THE RAPE AND THE TIME OF THE STUDY DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE RESULTS, WHICH SUGGESTED THAT RAPE HAS A STRONG NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE VICTIM'S SEXUAL LIFE. RAPE VICTIM TREATMENT THAT INCLUDES SEXUAL COUNSELING DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE THESE IMPACTS IS RECOMMENDED. FOOTNOTES, REFERENCES, AND A TABLE OF RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)