Examination of covariates of previous self-reported sexual assault

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Patrick Jones (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
Advisor
Richard Ogle

Abstract: This study investigated the relationships of female college students’ (N = 228) hypothesized high-risk personality and behavioral traits with self-reports of previous sexual aggression. Participants completed five scales: Women’s Sexual Experiences Survey, (Noel & Ogle, unpublished 2006); Sexual Experiences Survey, (Koss & Oros, 1982); Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, (Crowne & Marlow, 1960); The Quantity-Frequency Index (QFI), adapted from Cahalan, Cisin and Crossley (1969); The Hyperfemininity Scale (HFS), (Murnen & Byrne, 1991); The Modified Auburn Differential Masculinity Index: adapted from the ADMI-60, (Burk, Burkhart, & Sikorski, 2004) and the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory (NEO FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1989). Their scores were examined using a series of regressions tested three hypotheses. H1: Each of the individual variables (alcohol consumption, hyperfemininity and attraction to hypermasculinity) would separately predict self-reports of sexual assault. H2: When viewed collectively the experimental variables would explain more of the variance of sexual assault than they would independently. H3: the Modified Auburn Differential Masculinity index and the Hyperfemininity Scale would be positively correlated. Only one of the variables from Woman’s Sexual Experience Survey, which measured previous experiences of ambivalent sexual interactions, was able to be predicted. Individually, high scores on the Hyperfemininity Scale, the amount and the frequency of alcohol use predicted previous sexual aggression. Attraction to hypermasculine traits did not significantly predict previous sexual aggression. H2 was not supported; the predictor variables were not better at predicting previous aggression when investigated collectively. H3 was supported with a significant positive correlation between the scores on the Hyperfemininity Scale and the Modified version of the Auburn Differential Masculinity scale (r (201) =.435, p=.001).

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the REquirements for the Degree of Master of Science
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
Rape--Research--Psychological aspects, Rape victims--Psychology, Rapists--Psychology, Women--Crimes against--United States, Women college students--Crimes against--United State
Subjects
Rape -- Research -- Psychological aspects
Women -- Crimes against -- United States
Women college students -- Crimes against -- United States
Rapists -- Psychology
Rape victims -- Psychology

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