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Sexual assault has increasingly become a large problem on college and university campuses in the United States. Not only is the frequency of the occurrences problematic, but the lack of reporting, the mishandling of cases, and efforts to stop campus sexual assaults have also garnered a large amount of attention. While many research studies have focused on the effectiveness of educational programs aimed to increase awareness, reporting, and prevention of sexual assault among college students, not many studies have examined if students’ abilities to identify sexual assaults in contextual situations and their attitudes regarding sexual assault are affected by these programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate if students entered college with attitudes that are supportive of sexual assault, the ability of first-semester college freshman to identify sexual assault within contexts, students’ decision to report a perceived sexual assault, the likelihood that students would intervene as a bystander, and demographics related to student attitudes toward, identification of, and decisions to report sexual assaults. Participants in this study were 551 freshmen in their first-semester at Temple University, who were 18 or 19 years of age. Participants completed a survey which consisted of demographic questions, 11 original vignettes depicting potential sexual assault scenarios, the updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance (IRMA) scale, and the Type T personality questionnaire. Results revealed that about one-third of students surveyed did not completely disagree with sexual assault-supportive statements on the updated IRMA scale, with the He Didn’t Mean To and She Lied attitudes being the most popularly endorsed. Students who endorsed sexual assault-supportive attitudes were significantly more likely to misidentify an instance of sexual assault and to not report a perceived sexual assault in some scenarios. In regards to demographics, males were more likely than females to endorse sexual assault-supportive attitudes, to misidentify sexual assaults, to not report a perceived sexual assault in some scenarios, and they were less likely than females to intervene as a bystander in a sexual assault scenario. Sexuality and ethnic identification had some effect on attitudes endorsed and ethnic identity had an effect on the decision to report a sexual assault in two specific scenarios. In addition, the type of high school students attended and the types of sexual education topics they were educated on prior to college were significantly linked to attitudes endorsed, and the type of high school students attended was significantly linked to identifying instances of sexual assault. The growing issue of campus sexual assault is represented by the amount of students in this study who cannot correctly identify sexual assault situations, by the attitudes that contribute to the occurrences of sexual assault, and by the reasons why students feel sexual assault scenarios should not be reported. The significant relationship between endorsing attitudes and incorrectly identifying sexual assaults, as well as the decision to not report perceived sexual assaults, supports the potentially harmful effects having an attitude that essentially supports sexual assault can have in society. Prevention efforts need to address the root of a problem, which in this case is a culture where sexual assault, largely against women, is excused, dismissed, and subsequently deemed acceptable. Thus, adolescents should be educated and provided with appropriate messaging on topics related to sexual assault well before they enter college. / School Psychology

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The extant theories in PTSD describe significant initial symptom reactions, and these reactions may provide opportunities for clearer early identification and treatment of PTSD. There are empirically identified trajectories of PTSD, which indicates there is a critical starting point to those trajectories. Generally, theories and results suggest that the re-experiencing (Cluster B) and hyperarousal (Cluster E) symptoms are common reactions after traumatic events, while hyperarousal and negative cognitions and mood (Cluster D) clusters are generally identified as the most important and/or predictive. Thus, this dissertation utilized retrospective reports in order to identify initial symptom reactions and then subsequently predict PTSD severity over time. Participants included college women who experienced sexual and relationship violence within the past 2 years. Two primary hypotheses were investigated within the dissertation: 1) Cluster B and E symptoms were expected to be the most prevalent initial reactions reported, and 2) Clusters E and D were expected to significantly predict PTSD severity over time. The results indicated partial support for each hypothesis, such that Cluster B symptoms were among the most prevalent initial reactions and Cluster D was a significant predictor of PTSD severity over time. Specifically, earlier Cluster D ordering interacted with the presence of negative beliefs and loss of positive emotions to predict PTSD severity over time. / Doctor of Philosophy / There are ideas and theories about how posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) starts and gets worse. People develop PTSD in different ways; some develop it very quickly and it is very bad, while others develop it slowly and it may not affect them much at all. The first signs and symptoms may be the best place to look, much like when you first get a cough or a sore throat with a cold or the flu. Generally, research suggests that common reactions are re-living the trauma and having reactions like being on guard all the time. Being on guard all the time also may be one of those important symptoms that will help predict if someone will get PTSD, as well as experiencing things such as thinking harsh things about oneself. This dissertation included reports from people after they had experienced trauma in order to figure out those first symptoms. Then, it used those first symptoms to predict how bad their PTSD was in the weeks and months later. Participants included college women who experienced sexual assault and domestic violence within the past 2 years. The results showed that people often re-live the trauma, but it may not be the most important when predicting whether they will get PTSD or not. Negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself were the most important set of reactions when predicting who will get PTSD and how badly. More importantly, the earlier they had those negative thoughts, the worse their PTSD was in the coming weeks and months.

<p dir="ltr"><b>Introduction:</b> Sexual violence (SV) is a major concern for college women, with serious consequences for survivors, their families and communities, and society. Women experiencing SV are significantly more likely to experience future instances of violence, such that most campus SV occurs among a small group of women who experience multiple assaults. Reducing rates of SV revictimization is therefore a public health priority. However, theoretically-driven, empirically-based SV prevention programs are lacking, particularly for college women with a history of SV. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of an ecological momentary intervention (EMI), or intervention that offers support to survivors ‘in-the-moment,” despite theory and evidence to suggest that this may be a promising approach for reducing revictimization. <b>Method:</b> Using a cultural adaptation model—ADAPT-ITT (Wingood & DiClemente, 2008)—the present study adapted empirically supported techniques (ESTs) for SV prevention to 1) be used with survivors of SV, and 2) delivered as EMIs in moments of risk for SV revictimization. Six stakeholders (two stakeholder groups) and 31 college women with a history of sexual violence and past month risky sexual behavior and harmful alcohol use, were recruited. In Phase 1, participants completed SV prevention needs assessment via focus groups and surveys. In Phase 2, participants reviewed selected intervention materials, completed a brief pilot of the intervention, and provided feedback via focus groups and surveys. <b>Results</b>: Participant needs assessment supported adaptation of an SV revictimization prevention EMI focused on alcohol-, risky sexual behavior-, and SV protective behavioral strategies (PBS) with the addition of a brief motivational interview (BMI) and SV revictimization prevention psychoeducation. Participant feedback indicated acceptability and perceived effectiveness of the proposed intervention. Quantitative findings suggested good compliance with the intervention and associated behavioral change. Participant feedback also indicated several areas in need of improvement, including content, tone, and logistics. <b>Conclusion:</b> The present research demonstrates that feasibility, acceptability, and perceived effectiveness of a novel SV revictimization program, including EMI, BMI, and psychoeducation. Findings also underscore the effectiveness of involving the target population and community stakeholders in intervention adaptation and/or development.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-24T12:29:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1914 bytes, checksum: 7d48279ffeed55da8dfe2f8e81f3b81f (MD5) daniel_campos_iff_mest_2014.pdf: 1363522 bytes, checksum: 6fe7078709508d05d7fb17cc3a82adda (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Ensino. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e da Mulher. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / Esta dissertação tomou como objeto de análise a atuação do Conselho Tutelar da cidade do Rio de janeiro, diante dos casos notificados de abuso e exploração sexual. A metodologia geral adotada foram os métodos mistos concorrentes integrados. A técnica da entrevista foi complementada por questionário descritivo e análise documental. Os resultados foram dispostos em dois artigos e num capítulo de caracterização dos conselheiros tutelares e as condições de infraestrutura dos Conselhos Tutelares. O primeiro artigo retratou as principais dificuldades de atuação e mobilização da rede para garantir a proteção de crianças e adolescentes em situação de violência sexual sob a ótica dos conselheiros tutelares. O segundo buscou caracterizar o atendimento dos Conselhos diante dos casos de violência sexual, através da análise de prontuários em três dos 12 Conselhos existentes. Verificou-se a precariedade de infraestrutura dos Conselhos Tutelares. As ações dos Conselhos Tutelares mostraram-se fragilizadas em virtude do baixo número de serviços atuantes no atendimento de crianças e adolescentes em situação de violência sexual. Identificou-se uma atenção coadjuvante para as situações de exploração sexual. Concluí-se que ainda se fazem necessários ajustes em vários níveis para se prover uma atenção de qualidade a crianças e adolescentes em situação de violência sexual e suas famílias. / This thesis took as the object of analysis the performance of the Guardian Council of the city of Rio de Janeiro , in the face of reported cases of sexual abuse and exploitation . The general methodology was adopted mixed methods integrated competitors . The technique of the interview was supplemented by descriptive questionnaire and document analysis . The results were arranged in two articles and a chapter on the characterization of the council members and the infrastructure conditions of the Guardianship Councils . The first article portrayed the main difficulties of operation and mobilization of the network to ensure protection of children and adolescents in situations of sexual violence from the perspective of council members . The second sought to characterize the care of the Councils on cases of sexual violence , through analysis of medical records in three of the 12 existing councils . There was a precarious infrastructure Guardianship Councils . The actions of the Guardianship Councils proved weakened because of the low number of active in the care of children and adolescents exposed to sexual violence services . Identified an adjunct attention to situations of sexual exploitation . We conclude that even if adjustments are required at various levels to provide high-quality care to children and adolescents in situations of sexual violence and their families.

The relationships among self-labeled sexual orientation, sexual preferences, and sexual behaviors were examined in samples from Taiwan and the USA. Subsamples matched on gender, age, and marital status were created to reduce sexual orientation cell size discrepancies and demographic differences. Sexual orientation self-label, the Kinsey Scale of Sexual Orientation, and a modified version for preference were used to assess participants' sexual orientation, behavior, and preference, respectively. Additional measures included an adaptation of the Early Sexual Experiences Checklist, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for psychological distress. For both Taiwan and USA subsamples, heterosexual participants reported significantly greater congruence between sexual orientation identity and preference than did nonheterosexual participants. A high proportion of the Taiwan sample were celibate, precluding analyses of congruence between sexual orientation identity and sexual behavior. Congruence between sexual behavior and preference in the USA sample was negatively correlated with psychological distress. In a cross-cultural comparison between the Taiwan and USA women (n = 176), the two samples reported similar congruence between sexual orientation identity and preference. Exploratory analyses revealed that heterosexual participants' sexual orientation label was more &#8220;public, &#8221; (more categories of people who knew the participants' sexual orientation), than was nonheterosexuals' in both Taiwan and the USA. In Taiwan, heterosexual and nonheterosexual participants reported similar proportions who were celibate. A gender difference within the USA subsample included that men reported significantly greater congruence than did women regarding sexual orientation identity and congruence between behavior and preference. Analyses comparing self-labeled sexual orientation groups on unwanted childhood sexual experiences and age of earliest voluntary sexual activity were not significant. This study's limitations included small numbers of bisexual (USA n = 27, Taiwan n = 17) or homosexual (USA n = 35, Taiwan n = 9) participants, prohibiting distinctions between them. Recommended future research includes examining the self-labeling process, Asian American student sexual behaviors, and incorporating frequency and intrusiveness when assessing unwanted childhood sexual experiences.