Impaired and Incapacitated Rape Victims: Assault Characteristics and Post-Assault Experiences
Abstract
Alcohol is the most common “rape drug,” with up to two-thirds of victims consuming alcohol prior to the assault. Surprisingly, little research has examined the assault and postassault experiences of victims who were impaired or incapacitated as a result of substance use, including alcohol, during a rape. Thus, the current study evaluated the assault and postassault experiences of a sample of 340 nonimpaired, impaired, and incapacitated college rape victims. Results supported that these three groups differed in several assault characteristics, including threats by the assailant, resistance by the victim, and relationship with the assailant. In addition, impairment and incapacitation were associated with several postassault factors, including self-blame, stigma, and problematic alcohol use. Results also highlighted similarities in victims’ experiences, including levels of postassault distress. Implications of the findings for future research investigating impaired and incapacitated sexual assault victims are discussed.
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It is well established that DFSA pulls for increased self-blame and victim blame.
“It is well established that DFSA pulls for increased self-blame and victim blame (Littleton et al., 2009); our findings extend prior research by distinguishing specific self-blame cognitions for subgroups.”
From Drug-facilitated sexual assault, impaired trauma memory, and implications for mental health treatment (2022) · cites this paper as Littleton et al., 2009
The present findings are inconsistent with SA studies that found either greater lifetime PTSD with impaired memory or no differences.
“and are also inconsistent with SA studies that found either greater lifetime PTSD with impaired memory (Zinzow et al., 2010) or no differences (Littleton et al., 2009; McConnell et al., 2017).”
From Drug-facilitated sexual assault, impaired trauma memory, and implications for mental health treatment (2022) · cites this paper as Littleton et al., 2009
Cites
Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: a meta-analysis
Ozer, E. J., Best, S. R., Lipsey, T. L., & Weiss, D. S. (2003) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.1.52 · Cited by 3,322 · see citing works
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Ullman, S. E. (2023) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380211016013 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Fields, L., Young, D. A., Patel, A. R., Munroe, C., Shumway, M., Bell, S., & Richer, L. A. (2022) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008198.2022.2057165 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
- Authors
- Littleton, H., Grills-Taquechel, A., & Axsom, D.
- Affiliations
- Sam Houston State University (US)
- ORCID
- Littleton, Heather
- Venue
- Violence and Victims
- Publisher
- Springer Publishing Company
- Published
- 2009-08
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 439-457
- ISSN
- 0886-6708 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7073
- OpenAlex
- W2015545507
- Cited by
- 148
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 10.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Violence and Victims (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Keywords
- rape, sexual assault, alcohol impairment, incapacitation, substance use, university students, self-blame, stigma, alcohol abuse, victim resistance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcoholic Intoxication, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Rape, Regression Analysis, Self Concept, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Students, Comorbidity, Crime Victims, Young Adult
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