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Childhood Maltreatment and Date Rape

NCJ Number
177036
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: February 1999 Pages: 115-124
Author(s)
B Sanders; D L Moore
Date Published
1999
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article examines a study comparing women who reported unwanted sexual experiences judged to constitute date rape with controls who reported no rape.
Abstract
The date rape group had significantly higher scores on a measure of overall childhood stress and maltreatment and scored significantly higher on the principal subscale of that measure, which assesses negative home environment/neglect. Date rape participants were also more likely to have experienced sexual abuse in childhood; however, the relationship between date rape and other negative childhood experiences remained statistically significant after sexual abuse was partialled out. Thus, forms of maltreatment that are not specifically sexual are also associated with an increased likelihood of sexual victimization later in life. Maltreatment was significantly associated with dissociation, depression and other psychological symptoms of trauma. Tables, references