Citation

Hawn SE, Lind MJ, Conley A, Overstreet CM, Kendler KS, Dick DM, Amstadter AB. J. Am. Coll. Health 2018; 66(6): 467-475.

Affiliation

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond , VA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2018.1431911

PMID

29405876

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the moderating and mediating effects of perceived social support on the association between pre-college sexual assault (SA) and college-onset SA. PARTICIPANTS: A representative sample of 6,132 undergraduates.

METHODS: The PLUM procedure in SPSS was used to test the moderation model, with individual regressions conducted in a hierarchical fashion. A weighted least squared mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV) mediation model was used to examine the mediating effect of social support.

RESULTS: Pre-college SA significantly predicted college-onset SA. Social support significantly mediated the relation between pre-college SA and college-onset SA. Social support was not a significant moderator of this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of SA among college populations, as well as the high rates of SA revictimization, identification of factors that may be related to repeated SA (e.g., low social support) within this population are essential and may inform intervention, policy, and university student services.

Language: en

Keywords

Sexual assault; resilience; revictimization; social support; trauma