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Rape Stereotypes, Younger Age, and Social Support Are Associated with Concerns About Help-Seeking at a Sexual Assault
Siri Thoresen1,2, Tore Wentzel-Larsen1,3, Lisa Arntzen1
1Norwegian Center for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Oslo, Norway.
Summary
Many sexual assault survivors don't seek help due to concerns. Stereotypical assaults and support systems influence help-seeking behavior, highlighting the need for targeted information on post-assault healthcare benefits.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Victimology
Background:
- Sexual assault has severe long-term health consequences.
- Many victims do not access services offered by sexual assault centers.
- Understanding barriers to help-seeking is crucial for improving victim support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors differentiating sexual assault victims who seek help from those who do not.
- To explore concerns influencing help-seeking decisions among non-help-seekers.
- To inform strategies for increasing access to sexual assault services.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional observational study of 669 recent sexual assault victims.
- Recruitment via sexual assault centers and social media.
- Logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with help-seeking and concerns.
Main Results:
- Victims of stereotypical assaults (e.g., completed penetration, unknown perpetrator) were more likely to seek help.
- Concerns about seeking help at a sexual assault center (SAC) were prevalent among non-help-seekers (34%-65%).
- Factors like physical violence, age, penetration, and social support influenced specific concerns about seeking help.
Conclusions:
- Public information campaigns should emphasize post-assault healthcare benefits, particularly for younger victims and survivors of less stereotypical assaults.
- Social support from family and friends is a significant factor in victims' decisions to seek help.
- Addressing prevalent concerns about services and negative consequences is essential to encourage help-seeking behavior.
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