Citation

Stermac LE, Del Bove G, Bainbridge D. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2005; 13(1): 43-60.

Affiliation

University of Toronto; Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Center at Sunnybrook. (Lstermac@oise.utoronto.ca)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J146v13n01_03

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined the association between victim-perpetrator degree of relatedness in sexual assaults and specific patterns of coercion, violence, and injury. Database records were used to compare sexual assault characteristics among groups based on three levels of victimperpetrator relationship familiarity: (a) strangers (n = 342), (b) acquaintances/ dating partners known for longer than 24 hours (n = 326), and (c) current or previous spouses or boyfriends (n = 336). Categories of variables examined included presentation and assault characteristics, coercion, and physical trauma/injuries. Results of the study revealed an association between some patterns in sexual assault violence and specific victim-perpetrator degree of relatedness. In general, assaults committed by spouses or boyfriends in this study were characterized by more coercion, physical trauma, and injury severity than those committed by strangers and other known assailants.