Abstract
The relationship between specific aspects of the rape situation and immediate post-rape measures of depression, fear, anxiety, and social and interpersonal functioning in 50 recent victims of sexual assault was examined. The data failed to reveal any significant relationships between rape situation variables (e.g., stranger vs. known assailant, weapon vs. no weapon) and the nature or severity of the victims' psychological response. It is emphasized that this negative finding contradicts previous and current clinical lore, and has a number of implications for the assessment and treatment of rape victims.
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This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH#29692) to the first two authors.
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Frank, E., Turner, S.M. & Stewart, B.D. Initial response to rape: The impact of factors within the rape situation. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 2, 39–53 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321431
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321431