These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 5 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.

Del Bove, G., Stermac, L., & Bainbridge, D. (2005). Comparisons of sexual assault among older and younger women. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 17, 1-18. [Posted August 2007]

Key Points: Older victims were more likely to be sexually assaulted in their homes and were more likely to live alone than younger women.

Summary: This study compared sexual assault of older and younger women by reviewing medical records of those treated at a sexual assault care center in Ontario, Canada. The authors divided women into three groups by age: young (15-30 years; n=78), mid-age (31-54 years; n=73), and eldest (55-87; n=61). Elder women were more likely to be cognitively disabled than women in the younger groups. Older women were more socially isolated: they were more likely to live alone and significantly less likely to be accompanied to the care center by a friend than either of the other groups. More than half (51%) of elders were attacked in their homes, compared with 20% of mid-age women and 19% of young women. There was no significant difference found between the groups in the relationship of the attacker to the victim: about 40% of all assailants were strangers, and acquaintances were responsible for between 35-48% of attacks. Significant differences were not found in the type(s) of assault, injuries sustained, or need for hospitalization, although there was a trend toward increased vaginal injuries in older women. Weapons were used more frequently on younger women; however, the same levels of physical violence and restraint were used against older and younger women. To develop preventive strategies, the authors recommended that further research be done with women in assisted care facilities (almost 15% of elder victims were living in group settings). They also suggested identifying the actual relationship of acquaintances to their victims, as this may differ by age group.

Topics: elderly, injury

Magid, D. J., Houry, D., Koepsell, T. D., Ziller, A., Soules, M. R., & Jenny, C. (2004). The epidemiology of female rape victims who seek immediate medical care: Temporal trends in the incidence of sexual assault and acquaintance rape. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 3-12.

The emergency department is an important source of information about sexual assault occurrence since victims of sexual assault usually go to the emergency department for medical assistance after being assaulted. This is a study comparing the number of female sexual assault victims treated in a Colorado county’s emergency department between July and November of 1974 and 1991. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant increase in the incidence of sexual assault between 1974 and 1991. As predicted, there was a 60% increase in sexual assault incidence with this increase primarily caused by an increase in sexual assaults involving known assailants. Moreover, victims in the emergency department reported more physical force and physical injury in 1991 when compared to 1974. Additional differences between study years (e.g., incidence of oral/anal intercourse during assaults as well as administration of pregnancy prophylaxis and antibiotics) are also presented. Implications of these findings concerning rates of acquaintance rape, reporting rates, and changes in treatment practices are discussed.

Topics: injury; medical response; statistics

Stermac, L., Del Bove, G., Addison, M. (2004). Stranger and acquaintance sexual assault of adult males. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 901-915. [Posted December 2006]

Key Points: Sexual assaults of males by strangers tend to occur outdoors and are more likely to involve weapons and multiple perpetrators than assaults perpetrated by acquaintances. Severity and types of injuries due to sexual assault are similar in men and women.

Summary: In this descriptive study, researchers looked at the records of three groups of clients at a Canadian Sexual Assault Care Center: male victims of stranger assault (n=64); male victims of non-stranger assault (n=81); and female victims of non-stranger assault (n=106). Male survivors from both groups were more likely to be living in shelters, institutions (such as transitional housing) or on the street. They were also significantly more likely to have a physical disability than female victims of non-stranger assault. While acquaintance assaults of men and women usually took place in the assailant’s home (44.3% vs. 43.4%), male acquaintance assaults were significantly more likely to take place in an institution (10.1% vs 0%). Stranger assaults of men were more likely to take place outside, involve multiple perpetrators, and involve use of a weapon, although injuries were similar among the groups. All received similar levels of care at the hospital, although men were admitted more often than women. The findings suggested that men who were homeless and disabled were at higher risk for sexual assault by strangers, and that safer housing options were needed.

Topics: injury; male rape; vulnerability

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Updated 09/19/08