The Convergent Validities of Two Measures of Dating Behaviors Related to Risk for Sexual Victimization

Abstract

The primary purpose of this investigation was to assess the convergent validities of two measures of dating behaviors related to risk for sexual victimization, the Dating Self-Protection Against Rape Scale (DSPARS) and the Dating Behavior Survey (DBS). Three hundred seventy-seven women responded to measures assessing self-protective dating behavior (DSPARS), risk-related dating behavior (DBS), risk perception in a sexual assault scenario, and history of sexual victimization. The results support the convergent validities of the DSPARS and the DBS. Specifically, the results indicate that scores on the DSPARS were negatively correlated with risk-related dating behavior, delayed risk perception, and history of sexual victimization. In addition, scores on the DBS were positively correlated with delayed risk perception and history of sexual victimization. Scores on the DBS were also negatively correlated with self-protective dating behavior.

Keywords

sexual victimization dating behaviors risk perception validity

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abbey, A. , Ross, L.T. , McDuffie, D. , & McAuslan, P. (1996). Alcohol and dating risk factors for sexual assault among college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20, 147-169.

Amick, A.E. , & Calhoun, K.S. (1987). Resistance to sexual aggression: Personality, attitudinal, and situational factors. Archives of Sexual Behavior , 16, 153-163.

Breitenbecher, K.H. (2000). Sexual assault on college campuses: Is an ounce of prevention enough? Applied and Preventive Psychology: Current Scientific Perspectives, 9, 23-52.

Breitenbecher, K.H. , & Gidycz, C.A. (1998). An empirical evaluation of a program designed to reduce the risk of multiple sexual victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13, 472-488.

Breitenbecher, K.H. , & Scarce, M. (2001). An evaluation of the effectiveness of a sexual assault education program focusing on psychological barriers to resistance . Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16, 387-407.

Brener, N.D. , McMahon, P.M. , Warren, C.W. , & Douglas, K.A. (1999). Forced sexual intercourse and associated health-risk behaviors among female college students in the United States. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 252-259.

Gidycz, C.A. , Lynn, S.J. , Rich, C.L. , Marioni, N.L. , Loh, C. , Blackwell, L.M. , et al. (2001). The evaluation of a sexual assault risk reduction program: A multisite investigation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 1073-1078.

Gidycz, C.A. , Rich, C.L. , Orchowski, L. , King, C. , & Miller, A. (2006). The evaluation of a sexual assault self-defense and risk-reduction program for college women: A prospective study. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30, 173-186.

Hanson, K.A. , & Gidycz, C.A. (1993). Evaluation of a sexual assault prevention program . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 1046-1052.

10.

Koss, M.P. (1992). The underdetection of rape: Methodological choices influence incidence estimates. Journal of Social Issues, 48, 61-75.

11.

Koss, M.P. , & Dinero, T.E. (1989). Discriminant analysis of risk factors for sexual victimization among a national sample of college women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 242-250.

12.

Koss, M.P. , & Gidycz, C.A. (1985). Sexual Experiences Survey: Reliability and validity . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 422-423.

13.

Koss, M.P. , Gidycz, C.A. , & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The scope of rape: Incidence and prevalence of sexual aggression and victimization in a national sample of higher education students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 162-170.

14.

Koss, M.P. , Leonard, K.E. , Beezely, D.A. , & Oros, C.J. (1985). Nonstranger sexual aggression: A discriminant analysis of the psychological characteristics of undetected offenders. Sex Roles, 12, 981-992.

15.

Koss, M.P. , & Oros, C.J. (1982). Sexual Experiences Survey: A research instrument investigating sexual aggression and victimization. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 455-457.

16.

Messman-Moore, T.L. , & Brown, A.L. (2006). Risk perception, rape, and sexual revictimization: A prospective study of college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 30, 159-172.

17.

Mohler-Kuo, M. , Dowdall, G.W. , Koss, M.P. , & Wechsler, H. (2004). Correlates of rape while intoxicated in a national sample of college women. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 65, 37-45.

18.

Moore, C.D. , & Waterman, C.K. (1999). Predicting self-protection against sexual assault in dating relationships among heterosexual men and women, gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals. Journal of College Student Development, 40, 132-140.

19.

Muehlenhard, C.L. , & Linton, M.A. (1987). Date rape and sexual aggression in the dating situation: Incidence and risk factors. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 34, 186-196.