Reducing risk for sexual victimization: an analysis of the perceived socioemotional consequences of self-protective behaviors.
The current study examined college women's perceptions of the positive and negative socioemotional consequences associated with engaging in self-protective behaviors to reduce risk for sexual victimization. At baseline, women completed assessments of the extent to which they would experience positive or negative socioemotional consequences as a result of engaging in various self-protective behaviors. At a 2-month follow-up, women reported on their engagement in self-protective behaviors and experience of sexual victimization over the interim (N = 143). At baseline, some self-protective strategies were perceived as having more positive or negative socioemotional consequences than others. Perceiving a high level of negative socioemotional consequences associated with taking precautions prior to a date was associated with sexual victimization over the 2-month follow-up.
Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. lindsay.m.orchowski@alum.dartmouth.org
Lindsay M
LM
Orchowski
Amy S
AS
Untied
Christine A
CA
Gidycz
D000293:Adolescent; D001242:Assertiveness; D001290:Attitude; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult