ERIC Number: EJ1472979
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: EISSN-1940-3208
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Sexual Victimization Experience, Acknowledgment Labeling and Rape Empathy among College Men and Women
Suzanne L. Osman1
Journal of American College Health, v73 n2 p446-449 2025
Objective: Sexual victimization experience is a health concern among college students and rape empathy may help address it. Empathy with a rape victim was examined based on sexual victimization experience, acknowledgment (i.e., labeling experience "sexual assault," "rape"), and gender. Method: Undergraduates (n = 531) completed measures of sexual victimization experience and rape empathy. Results: Acknowledged victims reported greater empathy than unacknowledged victims and nonvictims, but the latter two groups did not differ. Unacknowledged female victims reported greater empathy than unacknowledged male victims, but no gender difference emerged for acknowledged victims or nonvictims. Victimized men were less likely than victimized women to acknowledge their experience. Conclusions: The association found between acknowledgment and empathy may inform efforts to address sexual victimization (e.g., prevention, victim support), and men should not be overlooked. Unacknowledged victims and greater acknowledgment rates among women than men may have contributed to previously reported gender differences in rape empathy.
Descriptors: Sexual Abuse, Rape, Victims of Crime, College Students, Empathy, Experience, Student Attitudes, Gender Differences, Undergraduate Students, Surveys
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Sexual Experiences Survey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Psychology, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland, USA