AN EMPIRICAL-EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE RISK OF MULTIPLE SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION

The purpose of this investigation was to design and empirically evalua te a program designed to reduce women's risk of multiple sexual victim ization. Participants in this study were 406 college women. At the beg inning of the academic quarter; participants responded to survey instr uments assessing history of sexual assault, dating behaviors, sexual c ommunication, and knowledge about sexual assault. After responding to survey instruments, women in the treatment group participated in the p rogram. Women in the control group did not participate in the program. Participants returned at the end of the academic quarter and responde d to survey instruments again. Results suggest that the program war in effective in reducing the incidence of sexual assault among participan ts. In addition, the program did not significantly affect dating behav iors, sexual communication, or knowledge about sexual assault Furtherm ore, the ineffectiveness of the program in these areas did not appear to be related to participants 'histories of sexual victimization.