Reactions of Female and Male Victims of Rape or Robbery, Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 114770
• Author(s): P A Resick
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 17 pages
• Grant Number(s): 85-IJ-CX-0042
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined precrime, crime, and post-crime variables for 75 female rape victims, 91 female robbery victims, and 108 male robbery victims and assessed the effects of participation in a St. Louis County victim-witness assistance program.

Abstract

Compared to robbery victims, rape victims were significantly more depressed, exhibited more overall distress, and scored higher on a measure of post-traumatic stress disorder. However, both groups evidenced considerable stress following victimization, with two-thirds of rape and one-third of robbery victims showing severe post-traumatic distress symptoms. While both groups showed improvement of symptoms over time, a majority of rape victims and 20 percent of robbery victims continued to experience distress symptoms at 18 months postcrime. Groups did not differ significantly with respect to prior victimization or psychological history. Groups did differ on assault variables, with rape victims being subject to more threats, restraint, injury, and crime duration. Rape victims also experienced greater anxiety, perception of imminent injury and death, and engaged in greater resistance during the crime. For rape victims, postcrime recovery was related to prior victimization history (particularly domestic violence and childhood physical abuse) and post-crime anger and behavior changes. For female robbery victims, extend of victimizations, childhood sexual abuse, prior psychiatric history (especially depression and suicide), and acquaintance with the perpetrator were predictive of recovery rates. Female robbery victims showed greater distress in the first month after the crime, but male and female victims differed little in their reactions thereafter. Few differences in social support among victims were found. Participating in the criminal justice process had little impact on psychological functioning or work adjustment of victims, and 75 percent of those who participated in the process felt their treatment had been positive and supportive.