Women's experiences of male-perpetrated sexual assault by sexual orientation.
This study examined differences in male-perpetrated adult sexual assault experiences among women of various sexual orientations using a large urban convenience sample (N = 1,022). Results showed many similarities in disclosure to others, perceived helpfulness, and attributions of blame, but there were also differences by sexual orientation. Heterosexual women were more likely to experience completed sexual assault than lesbian or bisexual women. Lesbians were more likely to be assaulted by relatives than bisexual or heterosexual women. Finally, bisexual women disclosed the assault to the greatest number of formal support sources, were most likely to tell a romantic partner about the assault, received the fewest positive social reactions overall, and had higher posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology.
Long
Susan M
SM
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago 60607, USA. slong2@uic.edu
Ullman
Sarah E
SE
Long
LaDonna M
LM
Mason
Gillian E
GE
Starzynski
Laura L
LL
D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012938:Social Perception; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D016387:Women's Health