title: The reciprocal relationship between sexual victimization and sexual assertiveness.
abstract: Low sexual assertiveness has been proposed as a possible mechanism through which sexual revictimization occurs, yet evidence for this has been mixed. In this study, prospective path analysis was used to examine the relationship between sexual refusal assertiveness and sexual victimization over time among a community sample of women. Results provide support for a reciprocal relationship, with historical victimization predicting low sexual assertiveness and low sexual assertiveness predicting subsequent victimization. The effect of recent sexual victimization on subsequent sexual assertiveness also was replicated prospectively. These findings suggest that strengthening sexual assertiveness may help reduce vulnerability to future victimization.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: VanZile-Tamsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D001242:Assertiveness; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health