SELF-EFFICACY, SELF-DETERMINATION AND VICTIM BLAMING AS PREDICTORS OFADOLESCENT SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION

Attitudinal constructs hypothesized to be related to sexual victimizat ion were assessed as part of a baseline survey on adolescent dating vi olence, Subjects were eighth and ninth graders in 14 schools in a rura l school district in North Carolina, A follow-up survey was completed 6 months later, Girls who had not reported forced sexual activity at b aseline (N = 732) were assessed to determine whether forced sexual act ivity during the intervening 6 months was predicted by levels of self- efficacy, self-determination or victim blaming at baseline. Results in dicate that levels of self-efficacy, but not self-determination or vic tim blaming, predict the likelihood of experiencing forced sexual acti vity in this adolescent female population, Recommendations are made fo r the inclusion of components promoting self-efficacy development in s exual assault prevention programs for females in this age group.