U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Study Finds Agencies Can React More Supportively Than Family and Friends to Victims' Disclosures of Sexual Assault
NCJ Number
              252273

Date Published

October 2018
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              This paper summarizes the findings of a study that examined sexual assault victims' perceptions of how others reacted to victims' disclosures of having been sexually assaulted, with a view toward devising and testing a modified Social Reactions Questionnaire (SRQ).
Abstract
              The main finding of the study was that individuals close to the victim may be less supportive than others at the time a sexual assault is disclosed. Victims reported receiving more negative reactions from informal supporters (family members and friends) than they experienced when disclosing their victimization to police or community-based service providers. Generally, informal disclosures to family and friends failed to yield tangible aid and helpful information to the victim. These findings indicate the need to provide community-coordinated support services by persons specially trained to provide  helpful emotional support and guidance. Another key finding was that victims who reported higher levels of fear were less likely to disclose sexual assaults to law enforcement; however, victims who disclosed their sexual assault initially to community-based survivors were more likely over time to also report their victimization to law enforcement. Out of all victim participants who reported disclosing their victimization to a community service provider, members of sexual minorities (lesbian, bisexual, asexual) were less likely than other victims to have also reported the assault to law enforcement. A total of 228 respondents, ages 18 to 62, participated in the study. Respondents reported multiple types of sexual victimization, with 79 percent reporting at least one forcible rape. A multilevel confirmatory factor analytic approach was used to analyze SRQ items.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2012-W9-BX-0049


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Description
                                Factsheet


  
  
        
  Award
        Expanding Use of the Social Reactions Questionnaire among Diverse Women
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 2018
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Attitudes toward victims
        Citizen crime reporting
        Comparative Analysis
        Criminal justice system response to victims
        Family support



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Policies and practices in cold cases: an exploratory study
                  Help-Seeking Among Victims of Elder Abuse: Findings From the National Elder Mistreatment Study
                  Decomposition of Juvenile-Sized Remains: a Macro- and Microscopic Perspective
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov