ERIC Number: EJ1102108
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
An Examination of the Disparity between Self-Identified versus Legally Identified Rape Victimization: A Pilot Study
Marsil, Dorothy F.; McNamara, Corinne
Journal of American College Health, v64 n5 p416-420 2016
Objective: Researchers compared rape victimization based on self-identification to the current federal legal definition in a pilot study of college students. Methods: The sample was comprised of 1,648 (69.8% female; 30.2% male) college students who completed the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) online. Results: Based on the current legal definition of rape, 9.4% (11.1% female; 5.2% male) of students had been raped since being enrolled, but only 2.9% of students self-identified as being raped. Moreover, 15.1% of students reported ever being raped, with females acknowledging higher rates (19.7%) than males (4.3%). Conclusions: Rape continues to be a major issue for colleges and universities. A serious concern is the disparity between the number of those who met the behavioral criteria for rape victimization based on the current legal definition, but who did not self-identify as a victim. Universities must address this disparity by using multiple measures to assess the prevalence of sexual violence on campus.
Descriptors: Rape, Pilot Projects, Comparative Analysis, Victims of Crime, College Students, Higher Education, Researchers, Identification (Psychology), Self Concept, Sexual Abuse, Surveys, Online Surveys, Classification, Violence, Campuses, Females, Males, Colleges, Universities, Questionnaires, Public Colleges, Regression (Statistics), Prediction
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Sexual Experiences Survey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A