Profile Analysis of Sexual Assault Experiences among Adult Women and Their Implications for Mental Health.

OBJECTIVE: Extant studies indicate that just one characteristic of sexual assault cannot properly represent the whole experience of sexual assault and, especially, the severity of sexual assault. This study aimed to understand the totality of sexual assault experiences and elucidate subtypes of sexual assault victims based on the detailed characteristics of their sexual assault experiences and those relationships with mental health. METHODS: A total of 255 adult sexual violence victims who used intervention services and a comparison group were included. Information on their sexual assault experiences was gleaned from case records data. RESULTS: The following four distinctive profile groups were identified: "Sexual Touching" (19.6%), "Rape/Social Relation" (30.4%), "Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)" (18.8%), and "Rape/Stranger" (31.3%). The subgroups differed in terms of secondary victimization and adverse childhood experiences. The Rape/Social Relation and IPV subgroups most frequently experienced secondary victimization and childhood adversity. The four profile subgroups demonstrated different relationships with mental health outcomes, with a complicated pattern. The Rap/Social Relation and IPV subgroups scored higher on mental health problem screening measures compared to other groups. However, a considerable proportion of victims in the Sexual Touching subgroup also reported suicidal behaviors and self-injury. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, theoretical and clinical implications were discussed.

Do Family-Level Factors Associated With Bullying Perpetration and Peer Victimization Differ by Race? Comparing European American and African American Youth.

Patterns of-and correlates associated with-bullying perpetration and peer victimization have received widespread research attention. Somewhat less research has considered how protective factors in the parental domain help to buffer against both adverse behaviors. And perhaps more importantly, even less research has considered potential racial differences in the manner in which family-level variables relate to both bullying perpetration and peer victimization. Using a nationwide sample of adolescents, the present study examines (a) how parent/guardian support, mother's parental monitoring, father's parental monitoring, and family satisfaction buffer against bullying perpetration and peer victimization; and (b) whether these relationships vary across race. Data are derived from the 2009 to 2010 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study in the United States. A total of 8,998 adolescents were included in the study sample, which consisted of 6,521 European Americans and 2,477 African Americans. Findings show that both European American and African American youth who received parental/guardian support were less likely to report being bullied. Among both African American and European American sub-samples, results showed that mother's parental monitoring was negatively associated with both bullying perpetration and peer victimization. Father's parental monitoring was negatively associated with peer victimization and bullying perpetration for European Americans only. Both European and African American youth who reported being satisfied with their family were less likely to report being bullied while European American youth who reported higher family satisfaction were less likely to engage in bullying. In sum, several family variables help to buffer against both bullying perpetration and peer victimization, but for the most part these relationships are race-invariant.

Development of Brief Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Rating Scale for Sexual Violence Victims.

The purpose of this study was to develop a brief rating scale of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among sexual violence victims. We analyzed the data from 195 victims and 220 non-victims to select meaningful items from the original PTSD rating scales. We also examined the validity of the brief scale by assessing internal consistency and ROC curves. The optimal cutoff scores for each brief scales were obtained. The results showed that a different approach may be required for early intervention in different age groups.

Cultural Orientation and Psychosocial Adjustment Among Immigrant Adolescents in South Korea.

The present study primarily uses Berry's theoretical model to examine national identity, acculturation (to South Korea), ethnic identity, and enculturation (to country-of-origin), and how they are linked to immigrant adolescents' aggression and depression in South Korea. Data were collected from 120 immigrant youths (i.e., those born in South Korea and those born in their country-of-origin) in eight middle schools. Analyses include multivariate regression and cluster analyses. Findings indicate that South Korean identity (m = 48, F = 77.0, p < .001), acculturation to South Korean culture (m = 44.9, F = 52.3, p < .01), and mother's Korean proficiency (m = 3.6, F = 10.9, p < .001) were higher among Korea-born adolescents. Enculturation (m = 35.5, F = 13.7, p < .001) and depression (m = 36.4, F = 15.3, p < .001) were higher among foreign-born adolescents. Aggression (r = - .26, p < .01) and depression (r = - .46, p < .01) were lower among native-born Korean adolescents. South Korean identity (B = - .27, p = .02) and acculturation (B = - .28, p = .01) were negatively associated with aggression. South Korean identity (B = - .22, p = .04), acculturation (B = - .21, p = .03), and ethnic identity (B = - .17, p = .02) were negatively associated with depression. Integration youth (M = 12.7) and assimilation youth (M = 11.5) reported lower aggression than marginalization youth (M = 15.8, F = 5.48, p < .01). Assimilation type had better outcomes than separation and marginalization types.