Long-term effects of rape on the victim

In order to learn about the long-term effects of rape on victims, 10 women who had been raped 3 or more years ago were interviewed concerning the changes they had perceived in themselves since the rape, particularly concerning their relationships with men and the course of those changes over time. From the themes presented by the victims, a two-dimensional category system was derived which elucidated the nature of the changes they perceived. The similarities between the victims' statements and David Shapiro's description of the paranoid style were discussed.

The victims took the Leary Interpersonal Check List, rating various categories of males and themselves in relation to those males. Victims and an undergraduate comparison group held common views of males as dominant, powerful, and aggressive. The victims differed from the undergraduates in seeing themselves as less affiliative in relation to men and more conscious of their self-interests.

The victims also took the SCL-90-R, a psychological symptom check list. The predominant dimension was Depression, in terms of both current experience and those symptoms which they attributed to the rape.

A Prevalence Survey was distributed at three mental health facilities to determine what proportion of the female clinical outpatient population has experienced forced sexual contact in the past. Figures for forced sexual contact in general ranged from 34% to 43%. Figures for rape and sexual assault ranged from 16% to 30%, and figures for incest ranged from 10% to 19%. At one facility, 11% reported both rape and incest.

Clinical implications of the findings and suggestions for further research were discussed.