SEXUAL ASSAULT IN SCHOOL, MENTAL-HEALTH AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENT WOMEN IN CANADA

Adolescent women (N = 1,025) in grades 7 through 12 in a stratified ra ndom sample of Alberta high schools completed measures of emotional pr oblems and suicidal behavior in the past six months, and of frequency and type of sexual assault (including sexual harassment) experienced i n school. It was found that 23% had experienced at least one event of assault (sexual touching, sexual threats or remarks, or an incident of indecent exposure); 4% had ''often'' experienced one or more of these assaults or harassments. Those experiencing a high number of sexual a ssaults or harassments were significantly more likely to have clinical profiles on the measures of emotional disorder; 15% of 38 women exper iencing frequent, unwanted sexual touching had ''often'' made suicidal gestures or attempts in the previous six months, compared with 2% of 824 women with no experience of sexual assault.