NCJ Number
209348
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 505-530
Date Published
April 2005
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study examined experiential and outcome differences between survivors of a single assault, survivors of ongoing abuse by a single perpetrator, and survivors of multiple assaults by different offenders.
Abstract
Substantial empirical evidence suggests that women with prior experience of sexual assault are at greater risk for sexual victimization than women without this experience. This study built on previous research by examining potential risk factors for sexual revictimization and for long-term psychological distress following single or repeat experiences of sexual assault. The study also attempted to differentiate experiences and outcomes associated with three categories of sexual victimization: single assaultive events, ongoing sexual abuse that occurs throughout time by the same perpetrator, and multiple sexual victimizations by different perpetrators throughout time. The findings offer a descriptive analysis of differential patterns of experiences and outcomes for women with different types of sexual assault histories. The results suggest that singly victimized women differ from women with repeat victimizations both in terms of the characteristics of their initial sexual assault and with respect to the long-term psychological and health consequences of their traumatic experiences. Both survivors of ongoing abuse and survivors of multiple assaults by different perpetrators were more likely to be younger at the time of their first assault and to experience more severe initial assaults, such as injury or threat. Overall, the results provide some insight into the longitudinal processes associated with sexual revictimization and underscore the need for additional longitudinal research to better chart trauma and resilience processes throughout time. References