Rape and physical violence: Comparison of assault characteristics in older and younger adults in the national women’s study
Abstract
This study compared characteristics of recently occurring assaults against younger adults (age 18-34 years) with those of distant-past assaults against older adults (age 55-89 years) when they were younger. Responses of a subset of participants in the National Women's Study were the source of data for this study. With the exception of perceived life threat during assault (more prevalent in younger women), assault characteristics did not vary greatly by age in terms of proportions reporting that they had seen the perpetrator before; the event was one in a series; they or the perpetrator were under the influence of a substance; they actually experienced injury; and they reported the assault to authorities. Consistent with previous research, younger women reported greater prevalences of assault than older women.
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- Authors
- Acierno, R., Gray, M., Best, C., Resnick, H., Kilpatrick, Saunders, B., & Brady, K.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- Alliant University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Acierno, Ron
- Venue
- Journal of Traumatic Stress
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2001-10
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 685-695
- ISSN
- 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6598
- OpenAlex
- W2042598355
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01da005220-04)
- National Institute on Aging
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA 05220)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Demography › Elder Abuse and Neglect
- Keywords
- rape, sexual assault, physical violence, age differences, older women, young women, perceived life threat, substance use, injuries, reporting to authorities
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Random Allocation, Rape, Violence, Prevalence
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