Citation

Walsh WA, Banyard VL, Moynihan MM, Ward S, Cohn ES. J. Trauma Dissociation 2010; 11(2): 134-151.

Affiliation

Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15299730903502912

PMID

20373203

Abstract

In order to continue to facilitate the disclosure of sexual assault to professional support services, the current study examined the extent to which survivors report using campus services and whether friends who had disclosed to participants used the services. We also compared knowledge of a campus sexual assault center and likelihood of using the center among college men and women. Surveys were completed by 1,230 students, including victims of unwanted contact (n = 127), victims of unwanted intercourse (n = 26), and friends of victims (n = 253). Students who reported being victims of unwanted sexual experiences were reluctant to use services, expressing concerns that they would not be believed and that they would be blamed for what had happened to them. College men were significantly less likely to know where the sexual assault center was located, to report that they would use the center, and to report that unwanted sexual experiences were a problem on campus. Results indicate that much needs to be done to educate the campus community about the value of using professional support services after a sexual assault.

Language: en