title: Premilitary adult sexual assault victimization and perpetration in a Navy recruit sample.
abstract: Female (n = 5,226) and male (n = 5,969) U.S. Navy recruits completed a survey assessing their premilitary histories of adult sexual assault (SA), defined as attempted or completed rape since the age of 14. The survey was completed under anonymous or identified conditions. Overall, 39% of women reported premilitary SA victimization and 13% of men admitted premilitary SA perpetration. As predicted, rates were significantly higher in the anonymous than in the identified condition. For the sample of women as a whole, marital status, ethnicity, and family income were associated with SA victimization; for men, only marital status was associated with SA perpetration. Compared to previous college samples, Navy recruits were more likely to have previous SA experience. Given the negative consequences associated with SA victimization and perpetration, the present study reinforces the desirability of developing additional treatment, education, and prevention programs to reduce the occurrence of SA among military recruits.
authors.affiliation: Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Stander
authors.forename: Lex L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Crouch
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Milner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D035841:Behavioral Research; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health