Abstract
This study investigated whether attitudes toward a complainant of sexual assault are affected by the knowledge that the complainant had previously made a similar allegation. This was a 3 (previous allegation; none, child sexual assault or adult sexual assault) × 2 (whether the previous allegation was substantiated) × 2 (the implied mental health status of the complainant; mental health issue vs. none) multifactorial, experimental study, employing independent-measures and hypothetical vignettes depicting stranger rape scenarios. The dependent variables were victim-blame and believability. The participants were 243 female undergraduate students. A multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) revealed several main and interactive effects. Allegations of sexual revictimization were associated with different levels of victim-blame and believability depending on when the previous assault occurred. A history of childhood sexual assault reduced the believability of the complainant and when combined with other factors increased the tendency to attribute victim-blame.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 992-1010 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Violence and Victims |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2019 |
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Profiles
-
Nadia Wager
- Department of Behavioural and Social Sciences - Acting Director
- School of Human and Health Sciences
- Centre for Applied Psychological Research - Member
- Centre for Applied Childhood, Youth and Family Research - Core Member
- Secure Societies Institute
- The None in Three Centre for the Global Prevention of Gender-based Violence
Person: Academic