Sexual Victimization among Spanish College Women and Risk Factors for Sexual Revictimization

Abstract

Sexual revictimization is frequent among victims of child sexual abuse. Several variables, such as sexual experience, substance abuse, and sexual assertiveness, have been proposed to explain the link between child sexual abuse and adolescent and adult sexual victimization, although they have typically been tested separately. The main objective of this study was to analyze which of these variables better explains the revictimization phenomenon using a multiple mediation analysis. The study also tested the frequency of sexual victimization experiences in a Spanish sample of college women. Four hundred and two women were interviewed. Results showed that 30.4% of them engaged in undesired sexual contact while almost 4% were victims of rape. The most frequent perpetrators were partners or ex-partners, acquaintances, or dating partners, but not strangers. Finally, the relationship between child sexual abuse and adolescent and adult sexual victimization was mediated by number of consensual sexual partners and sexual assertiveness. Results reflect some cultural differences from previous research.