Group Differences in Sexual Victimization Risk Among Women as a Function of Developmental Stage and Victimization Status

Abstract

Guided by traumagenic dynamics and evolutionary-developmental (e.g., life history) frameworks, this study examines whether developmental stage and sexual victimization group status (e.g., childhood, adolesces, adulthood, or multiple victimizations across developmental stages) are associated with different risk profiles (e.g., sexual attitudes and behaviors) using data from 932 women’s online self-report surveys. 344 (37%) women experienced unwanted vaginal penetration during their lives (32 childhood only, 78 adolescence only, 118 adulthood only, and 116 multiple stages). ANOVAs with Dunnet T3 posthoc tests and multinomial logistic regressions predicting victimization group revealed significant between-group differences for age of menarche, age of first consensual intercourse, mental health, sociosexuality (SOI-R), and posttraumatic sexual behavior (PTSBI-W). Results demonstrate the need for developmentally informed prevention and treatment policies.