Interpersonal Factors in the Risk for Sexual Victimization and Its Recurrence During Adolescence

• NCJ Number: 222126
• Journal: Journal of Youth Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2008 Pages: 297-309
• Author(s): Brennan J. Young; Wyndol Furman
• Date Published: March 2008
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 50106; HD049080
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the developmental pattern of sexual aggression among adolescents and assessed the impact of interpersonal risk factors.

Abstract

Results indicate that nearly one half of the adolescents reported having experienced some form of sexual aggression by the end of the fourth year (1 year post-high school). Approximately 65 percent of adolescents who reported an initial incident of aggression also reported a repeat incident at a later wave. Repeat incidents tended to follow closely on the heels of the first victimization, with an average time to revictimization of 1.33 years. Adolescent girls were at higher risk for experiencing sexual aggression than boys in the current sample; initial victimization occurred somewhat sooner for girls. Several risk factors played an important role in this pattern of experiencing sexual aggression. Higher levels of sexual activity prospectively predicted becoming a victim of sexual aggression; adolescents who engage in these activities may run a higher risk for experiencing sexual questions simply because they are more often in situations where sexual aggression is likely to occur. However, more may be involved in just opportunity; date rape often occurs in situations that began as consensual sexual activity. Adolescents with higher levels of rejection sensitivity also were at increased risk for being a victim of sexual aggression. These adolescents may have difficulty setting and enforcing clear boundaries for sexual activity. Just as child sexual victimization places the individual at risk for subsequent revictimization, so does victimization from a peer. Middle to late adolescence, is a particularly risky time for experiencing sexual aggression, both initially and in recurrence, represents a critical window for intervention. Individuals who have previously experienced sexual aggression may be appropriate for more narrowly focused targeted interventions. Tables, figure, references