These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 6 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.

Campbell, R. (2006). Rape survivors’ experiences with the legal and medical systems: Do rape victim advocates make a difference? Violence Against Women, 12, 30-45. [Posted December 2006]

Key Points: Survivors of sexual assault who were assisted by rape crisis center advocates received more medical and legal services, and were less distressed by their interactions with law enforcement and medical personnel.  

Summary: This study looked at women who were treated in emergency rooms after reporting rape. Two hospitals were included in the study: one had a policy of paging a rape crisis advocate when a victim arrived, and the other did not. Participants included 36 women who worked with rape victim advocates and 45 who did not. Survivors were asked about medical and legal services that were offered, secondary victimization behaviors by medical and law enforcement staff, and their emotional responses to the secondary victimization. Victims who worked with advocates had more police reports taken (59% vs. 41%) and were less likely to experience secondary victimization behaviors from medical and legal personnel. They were more likely to be offered emergency contraception (33% vs. 14%) and information about/treatment for STDs. They were less likely to blame themselves for the assault (54% vs. 82%) and less reluctant to seek further help (67% vs. 91%). The author recommended that rape crisis centers continue to work with medical and legal systems to streamline response systems and increase the use of advocate services.

Topics: rape crisis centers; secondary victimization; victim services

Hellman, C. & House, D. (2006). Volunteers serving victims of sexual assault. Journal of Social Psychology, 146, 117-123. [Posted October 2006]

Key Points: Sexual violence crisis hotline and hospital advocate volunteers were most satisfied with their work when they were emotionally attached to the agency and attended monthly meetings that they found helpful. Satisfied volunteers intended to stay in their positions. 

Summary: In this study, researchers looked at factors associated with volunteer satisfaction, commitment, and intent to continue volunteering. Twenty-eight sexual violence crisis hotline and hospital advocate volunteers filled out mail-in surveys. Satisfied volunteers were more likely to report intending to remain in their positions. Compared with less satisfied volunteers, satisfied volunteers reported higher levels of feelings of competence, social support, and emotional attachment to the agency. They also reported finding monthly agency meetings more valuable and had lower levels of exposure to victim blaming from other service providers. This is a very small sample, but it reaches the same conclusions as previous research. The authors recommended on-going training for volunteers, including skills-building to confront victim-blaming among other service providers. By addressing these issues, volunteers may be more satisfied, which may lead to better retention.

Topics: advocate self-care; rape crisis centers; victim services

Wasco, S., & Campbell, R. (2002). Emotional reactions of rape victim advocates: A multiple case study of anger and fear. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26, 120-130.

Summary: This study evaluates rape victim advocates’ emotional responses to their work. Qualitative analysis was conducted on the emotional reactions of women who support rape victims through the criminal justice process and through other services provided after the assault (physical and mental). Results showed that women respond to individual factors and environmental factors surrounding rape with emotions of fear and anger. Also, some rape victim advocates viewed their emotional responses as beneficial to the victim specifically and within their work in general.

Topics: advocate self-care; rape crisis centers; victim services

Wasco, S., Campbell, R., & Clark, M. (2002). A multiple case study of rape victim advocates’ self-care routines: The influence of organizational context. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30, 731-760.

Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine how rape advocates cope with their job which includes repeated exposure to rape victims and their experiences. Qualitative analysis was conducted on the types of self-care strategies used and the organizational settings of the work place of rape victim advocates. This study further evaluated the relationship between the advocates’ use of self-care strategies and organizational support provided. Results indicate that self-care routines were derived from various resources and provided the benefit of “cathartic releasing of traumatic material”, and “improving capacity to integrate traumatic material into one’s life.” Several organizational characteristics reviewed in this study were reported as being supportive. All of the victim advocates reported using self-care strategies; however, those who worked in organizations with higher levels of support were able to benefit from a combination of both self-care and organizational support methods.

Topics: advocate self-care; rape crisis centers; victim services

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Updated 09/19/08