Sexual violence among college students is one of the largest public health concerns of violence researchers and administrators of Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). The vast majority of college students do not formally report incidents of sexual violence to IHEs, but the experiences of those survivors who do report these crimes have not been thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine relationships between survivors’ evaluations of IHE responses, secondary victimization emotions, and future reporting intentions, and (b) determine what constitutes helpful and unhelpful IHE responses for student survivors. The sample was 115 college students at an IHE in the Pacific Northwest who were identified as victims of sexual violence incidents that were formally reported to the University of Oregon. Self-report, descriptive data included sample demographics, victimization type, substance use, revictimization, and academic departure following the reported incident. Participants evaluated three different aspects of the IHE response: the first staff member to whom they reported, the response by the institution’s victim services team, and the IHE’s overall response. Path analyses were conducted to determine relationships between survivors’ evaluations of IHE responses, voluntary substance use prior to the incident, secondary victimization emotions, and future reporting intentions. Qualitative data identifying participants’ experiences of helpful and unhelpful aspects of IHE responses was also collected. Path analyses revealed that (a) victim voluntary substance use and more negative evaluations of overall IHE response predicted secondary victimization emotions; (b) more positive evaluations of the IHE victim services team, more positive evaluations of the overall IHE response, and less secondary victimization emotions predicted future reporting intentions; and (c) secondary victimization emotions partially mediated the relationship between overall IHE response and future reporting intentions. Findings highlight the importance of assessing student survivors’ experiences of IHE responses to reports of sexual violence. Recommendations for improving IHE responses are provided and implications for future research and practice are discussed. / 10000-01-01

Thesis (M.S.N.)--Georgia Southern University, 2005. / "A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education." ETD. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-67) and appendices.

A journey to healing is a story of women survivors of sexual abuse. Through narrative pastoral conversations a group or community of concern was formed that witnessed how these women managed to move by re-telling from problem-saturated dominant lifestories to rich alternative stories of survival. Post-modern practical theology formed the epistemological backdrop of this study with the focus on taking a prophetically, ethical and political stance. The group deconstructed patriarchal knowledge that has been dominant in constructing understanding of women. Deconstruction lead to the centralising of previously subjugated knowledge about themselves and made multiple identities and preferred realities possible. Feminist theology's liberating spirit contributed to this participator action research where women moved from being right to doing right. The monthly celebration teas hosted by the group were instrumental in the healing of other women who have experienced sexual violation. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

A journey to healing is a story of women survivors of sexual abuse. Through narrative pastoral conversations a group or community of concern was formed that witnessed how these women managed to move by re-telling from problem-saturated dominant lifestories to rich alternative stories of survival. Post-modern practical theology formed the epistemological backdrop of this study with the focus on taking a prophetically, ethical and political stance. The group deconstructed patriarchal knowledge that has been dominant in constructing understanding of women. Deconstruction lead to the centralising of previously subjugated knowledge about themselves and made multiple identities and preferred realities possible. Feminist theology's liberating spirit contributed to this participator action research where women moved from being right to doing right. The monthly celebration teas hosted by the group were instrumental in the healing of other women who have experienced sexual violation. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)