NCJ Number
209707
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 611-629
Date Published
June 2002
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether certain types of assault and assault characteristics are differentially related to involvement in risky behaviors such as substance use or risky sexual activity.
Abstract
Past research examining risk-taking behaviors in relation to interpersonal victimization has focused on substance use behaviors. In addition to substance use, researchers have also examined the relation between a history of interpersonal victimization and sexual risk-taking. This study investigated the association of recent risk-taking behaviors, such as substance use and risky sexual behaviors and lifetime interpersonal victimization in a sample of 310 female university students. The study was part of a larger investigation of the effectiveness of sexual assault prevention programs. Study findings provide evidence that victimization is associated with behavioral correlates that have serious implications for the physical and psychological health of women. The major finding of this study is that interpersonal victimization is related to increased sexual risk taking and substance use and supports previous findings documenting an association between a history of sexual assault and involvement in risky behavior. References