Patterns among sexual assault victims seeking treatment services

The validity and reliability of research on the nature and extent of sexual assault tends to be affected by different definitions, methodologies, and measurements. As a result, two important aspects of sexual assault associated with patterns of symptom expression and therapeutic interventions are not often reflected in the research; the severity of the assault, including the duration of the abuse, and the age at the time of the assault and the gender of the victim. This research is based on intake forms from Hawai;i's only statewide provider of services to the victims of sexual assault. The analyses reveal that significant differences exist between male and female victims, by age and by assault characteristics, including the type of sexual assault, use of force and injury, length of assault, and the relationship between victim and offender.