Correlates of Disclosing Sexual Victimization to a Resident Assistant: A Study of College Women

Abstract

ABSTRACT First-year college women are at a high risk for sexual victimization. Staff within residence halls play an important role in connecting students who experience harm with resources. This study utilized survey assessments to examine correlates of likelihood to disclose sexual victimization to a resident assistant among a sample of first-year college women (N = 374). History of sexual victimization, self-concealment, attitudes toward psychological care, and social support were evaluated as correlates of likelihood to disclose to a resident assistant. A history of sexual victimization, level of self-concealment, and attitudes toward seeking psychological care showed a negative association to perceived likelihood to report sexual victimization to a resident assistant. Self-esteem, tendency to disclose sensitive information, tendency to cope via problem solving, social support grounded in guidance, and social support providing reassurance of worth were positively associated with perceived likelihood to disclose to a resident assistant. Multivariate analyses revealed that having no history of prior sexual victimization, high levels of social support that offered reassurance of worth, and a greater tendency to disclose sensitive information emerged as salient multivariate predictors of college women's perceived likelihood to disclose sexual victimization to a resident assistant. Findings increase our understanding of the individual characteristics that influence whether someone seeks assistance from a resident assistant after sexual assault and which students may benefit from additional outreach to connect with university resources after experiences of sexual violence.