What date/acquaintance rape victims tell others: A study of college student recipients of disclosure

The authors surveyed 828 college students and found that approximately one third (n = 282) of the respondents reported that one or more women had told them that they had been raped by their dates or acquaintances. The 282 res pondents who knew I or more victims of date/acquaintance rape reported on a total of 396 victims. The number of victims identified by respondents rang ed from 1 to 3 or more (1 = 73%; 2 = 19%, 3 = 5%, greater than or equal to 4 = 3%). Reactions to disclosure offered by these respondents were generall y supportive of the victim. The respondents' reactions suggested that there is a continuing need to educate students about the incidence and risks ass ociated with date/acquaintance rape and the possibility of disclosure, part icularly by friends or dating partners, and brought out some possible helpf ul and some counterproductive reactions to such disclosures.