A Person-Centered, Longitudinal Approach to Sexual Victimization
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Jacquelyn W. White, Professor (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: Objective: Little research has drawn attention to distinct patterns of sexual victimization across time, although previous findings strongly indicate heterogeneity. Using longitudinal data, we tested a series of latent class growth models in an attempt to find meaningful patterns of sexual victimization frequency among female college students. Method: A sample of women (n = 1,580) answered questions at 5 time points concerning their childhood, adolescent, and collegiate sexual experiences. Latent class growth analysis was used with frequencies of sexual victimization at each of the 5 time points as indicators. Results: A 4-class model was selected on the basis of its fit to the data and its interpretability. The 4 classes are interpreted as low/none, moderate-increasing, decreasing, and high-increasing trajectories of sexual victimization. Negative childhood experiences—childhood sexual abuse, witnessing domestic violence, and parental physical punishment—partially explained latent trajectory membership. Conclusion: Possible implications of this research include the development of more specialized primary, secondary, and tertiary sexual assault prevention programs based on the victimization trajectories indicated by these analyses.
A Person-Centered, Longitudinal Approach to Sexual Victimization
PDF (Portable Document Format)
184 KB
Created on 2/28/2012
Views: 4154
Additional Information
- Publication
- Psychology of Violence 1(1), 29-40
- Language: English
- Date: 2011
- Keywords
- victimization, sexual aggression, person-centered analysis, longitudinal analyses, sexual assault prevention