Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors

An estimated 1 out of 6 women and 1 out of 33 men has been a victim of sexual assault at some point in their lifetime. The objective of this study was to quantify the associations between sexual assault and negative health outcomes among males and females who reported being sexually assaulted in the...

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Main Authors: Ekta Choudhary MS, MPH, Jeffrey H. Coben MD, Robert M. Bossarte PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2008-09-01
Series:American Journal of Men's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988307313819
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author Ekta Choudhary MS, MPH
Jeffrey H. Coben MD
Robert M. Bossarte PhD
author_facet Ekta Choudhary MS, MPH
Jeffrey H. Coben MD
Robert M. Bossarte PhD
author_sort Ekta Choudhary MS, MPH
collection DOAJ
description An estimated 1 out of 6 women and 1 out of 33 men has been a victim of sexual assault at some point in their lifetime. The objective of this study was to quantify the associations between sexual assault and negative health outcomes among males and females who reported being sexually assaulted in the past 12 months or at some point before the past 12 months. Data were obtained from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System core and sexual violence modules. A series of logistic regression models, including all respondents and stratified by gender, was used to identify differences associated with victimization. Among women, victimization before the past 12 months was significantly associated with poor health status, poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, activity limitations, smoking, and binge drinking. Women who reported victimization in the past 12 months were also significantly more likely to report poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, activity limitations, and binge drinking. Among males, significant associations were found with smoking (past 12 months), poor life satisfaction (before the past 12 months) and activity limitations (before the past 12 months). Results of this study suggest that poor mental and physical health associated with victimization are more prevalent in women and that these relationships persist over time. The broad range of outcomes associated with victimization suggests that further research is needed to better understand the consequences associated with sexual violence across the lifespan.
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spelling doaj.art-f8c6887f2a7249b1bcafc9ae5dfa12432022-12-22T03:39:45ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98832008-09-01210.1177/1557988307313819Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk BehaviorsEkta Choudhary MS, MPHJeffrey H. Coben MDRobert M. Bossarte PhDAn estimated 1 out of 6 women and 1 out of 33 men has been a victim of sexual assault at some point in their lifetime. The objective of this study was to quantify the associations between sexual assault and negative health outcomes among males and females who reported being sexually assaulted in the past 12 months or at some point before the past 12 months. Data were obtained from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System core and sexual violence modules. A series of logistic regression models, including all respondents and stratified by gender, was used to identify differences associated with victimization. Among women, victimization before the past 12 months was significantly associated with poor health status, poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, activity limitations, smoking, and binge drinking. Women who reported victimization in the past 12 months were also significantly more likely to report poor mental health, lower life satisfaction, activity limitations, and binge drinking. Among males, significant associations were found with smoking (past 12 months), poor life satisfaction (before the past 12 months) and activity limitations (before the past 12 months). Results of this study suggest that poor mental and physical health associated with victimization are more prevalent in women and that these relationships persist over time. The broad range of outcomes associated with victimization suggests that further research is needed to better understand the consequences associated with sexual violence across the lifespan.https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988307313819
spellingShingle Ekta Choudhary MS, MPH
Jeffrey H. Coben MD
Robert M. Bossarte PhD
Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors
American Journal of Men's Health
title Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors
title_full Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors
title_fullStr Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors
title_full_unstemmed Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors
title_short Gender and Time Differences in the Associations Between Sexual Violence Victimization, Health Outcomes, and Risk Behaviors
title_sort gender and time differences in the associations between sexual violence victimization health outcomes and risk behaviors
url https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988307313819
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