Prediction of sexual assault experiences in college women based on rape scripts: a prospective analysis.
Although script theory has been applied to sexual assault (e.g., H. Frith & C. Kitzinger, 2001; A. S. Kahn, V. A. Andreoli Mathie, & C. Torgler, 1994), women's scripts of rape have not been examined in relation to predicting sexual victimization experiences. The purpose of the current study was to examine how elements of women's sexual assault scripts predicted their sexual assault experiences over a follow-up period. The authors used data from a baseline and follow-up session for 339 undergraduate women. The results suggest that women who constructed narratives containing certain elements were more likely to report a sexual assault over the academic quarter. Specifically, narratives containing the woman utilizing nonforceful resistance, the woman having less control over the outcome of the situation, the assault happening outdoors, the assault being more severe, and the woman having known the perpetrator less time were predictive of reported sexual victimization over the 8-week follow-up period. Additionally, having a history of adolescent sexual victimization was also predictive of reported sexual victimization over the quarter. These findings have important implications in sexual assault risk-reduction programming, which are discussed.
Turchik
Jessica A
JA
Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA.
Probst
Danielle R
DR
Irvin
Clinton R
CR
Chau
Minna
M
Gidycz
Christine A
CA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence