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The Interface between Social Anxiety and Sexual Victimization: A Study of College Women's Experiences

Menatti, Alison R.

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
Research has yet to examine thoroughly how the socio-evaluative fears that typify social anxiety affect the characteristics of sexual assault and post-assault recovery. Accordingly, the present study sought to examine how social anxiety influences sexual assault correlates (e.g., alcohol consumption, tactics used by a perpetrator to compel unwanted sexual activity, and victim resistance to assault) and sequelae (e.g., help-seeking behavior, and interpersonal and sexual functioning difficulties). College women (N = 203) completed a battery of online questionnaires for partial course credit. Results supported that social anxiety significantly predicted the frequency of coercion, attempted rape, and rape. Potential mediators of these relationships were examined. Difficulties with interpersonal functioning and sexual aversion (but not sexual dysfunction) were particularly pronounced for women high in social anxiety with past-year assault histories. In addition, although social anxiety exacerbated some psychological barriers to resistance, social anxiety also significantly predicted assertive, but not non-assertive, behavioral resistance to sexual assault. Further, social anxiety and victimization history independently predicted drinking-related consequences. Lastly, post-assault help-seeking was found to be particularly challenging for socially anxious individuals, although social anxiety may not act as a barrier to disclosure of sexual assault to others. In all, current findings underscore the need for continued research to further elucidate the relationship between sexual assault and social anxiety to augment sexual assault prevention and treatment efforts.
Christine Gidycz, Ph.D. (Advisor)
178 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Menatti, A. R. (2016). The Interface between Social Anxiety and Sexual Victimization: A Study of College Women's Experiences [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1468411273

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Menatti, Alison . The Interface between Social Anxiety and Sexual Victimization: A Study of College Women's Experiences. 2016. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1468411273.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Menatti, Alison . "The Interface between Social Anxiety and Sexual Victimization: A Study of College Women's Experiences." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1468411273

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)