EXPLORING NEGATIVE DATING EXPERIENCES AND BELIEFS ABOUT RAPE AMONG YOUNGER AND OLDER WOMEN

Although there is extensive research describing negative dating experi ences and rape myth beliefs among university-and college-age women, th ere is little exploration of these issues among older dating women. An exploratory study that extends existing research by investigating rap e myth beliefs and negative dating experiences of women ranging in age from 18 to 85 years is described Participants (N=115) completed a que stionnaire which included a standardized measure of rape myth adherenc e (R-Scale; Costin, 1985), and a series of questions that assessed con cerns about the potential for negative experiences while dating and ac tual negative dating experiences (ranging from unwanted affection to r ape). There were remarkable similarities among younger and older women with respect to their dating behaviors and experiences. Women from bo th age groups reported being the target of negative dating experiences and being concerned about these experiences-with older women expressi ng slightly more concern. Older women, however, endorsed rape myths to a greater extent. This suggests that older women may be at greater ri sk for self-deprecation because they may be more likely to attribute t he negative experiences they encounter to personal faults. Findings hi ghlight the need for more life-span research of dating experiences and attitudes towards dating violence.