If It Wasn't Rape, Was It Sexual Assault? Comparing Rape and Sexual Assault Acknowledgment in College Women Who Have Experienced Rape

Violence Against Women. 2018 Nov;24(14):1718-1738. doi: 10.1177/1077801217743339. Epub 2018 Jan 12.

Abstract

The present study investigated (a) comparisons in rates of rape and sexual assault acknowledgment and (b) a comprehensive multivariate multinomial logistic model predicting rape and sexual assault acknowledgment in a sample of 174 college women who had experienced rape. Significantly more women acknowledged having experienced sexual assault than rape. Greater perceived perpetrator force was associated with increased likelihood of rape and sexual assault acknowledgment. Increased age and greater perceived emotional impact were associated with increased odds of rape acknowledgment. Implications for policy, education, and practice within university settings are discussed.

Keywords: acknowledgment; college women; rape; sexual assault.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Female
  • Humans
  • New England
  • Perception*
  • Psychometrics / instrumentation
  • Psychometrics / methods
  • Rape / psychology*
  • Self Concept
  • Sexual Harassment / classification*
  • Sexual Harassment / psychology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities / organization & administration
  • Young Adult