Citation

de Graaf H, de Haas S. J. Gender Based Viol. 2018; 2(2): 351-371.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Centre for Gender and Violence Research, University of Bristol, Publisher Policy Press)

DOI

10.1332/239868018X15263881729733

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of behavioural specificity on survey participants' disclosure of sexual victimisation. It was hypothesised that multiple behaviourally specific items (MBSI) would result in higher prevalence rates than a single item about sexual victimisation. In addition, it was explored whether the likelihood of identifying as a victim in response to a single item, among people who identified as a victim in response to MBSI, depended on demographic variables and perpetrator characteristics. Data from the Dutch periodical sexual-health population survey were used. The sample included 3,927 men and 4,137 women aged 15‐70 years (M=42.2 years, SD=15.2).

RESULTS showed that MBSI yielded higher prevalence rates than the single item. Moreover, gender and a number of other variables were related to the effect of behavioural specificity on the disclosure of victimisation. Female victims were more likely than male victims to report victimisation in response to a single item. The implications of these findings are discussed.



Key messages

• Our study shows that underreporting on a single item question of sexual victimisation is related to socio-demographic variables and to perpetrator characteristics.

• Multiple behaviourally specific items should be included in order to provide reliable estimates of the prevalence of sexual victimisation for all population groups.

Keywords: disclosure; measurement; population study; sexual victimisation; survey

Language: en