PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND WHITE NON-HISPANIC ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Data were obtained from a nonclinical sample of 1,121 Mexican American and White non-Hispanic adolescent females. Three hundred and three fe male participants who reported being sexually assaulted were compared to 793 females who reported no history of sexual assault on a number o f psychosocial characteristics. Male participants were excluded due to small N. White non Hispanic adolescent females were twice as likely t o report sexual assault as Mexican American adolescent females. Althou gh rates of sexual assault differed across ethnicity, ethnicity did no t influence the relationship between sexual assault and psychosocial c haracteristics of victims. Results did indicate, however that sexual a ssault victims reported more emotional distress, more social isolation and more deviant behavior than nonvictims. Likewise, sexual assault v ictims reported poorer school adjustment, were more likely to affiliat e with deviant peers, and were more likely to come from homes in which there was parental substance use and family conflict.