The myth of getting carried away: relationships between rape myth acceptance and disclosure of sexual violence among victims/survivors in university

Abstract

Objective To examine the relationships between rape myth acceptance among victims/survivors of sexual violence and their disclosure behaviors, to inform more effective sexual violence prevention and support for victim/survivor public health strategies.

Participants Undergraduate students (n = 342) enrolled at a university, aged 18 or older (m = 21.12, SD = 4.12), and who have experienced sexual violence.

Methods An online survey was administered in 2020 at a racially and ethnically diverse public university. ANOVA tests compared rape myth acceptance scores across social groups, and binary logistic regressions examined the association between rape myth acceptance and disclosure of sexual assault.

Results Regression results revealed that among college students who had experienced some form of sexual violence, there was no significant relationship between total rape myth acceptance scores and sexual assault disclosure. However, one rape myth was significantly associated with disclosure behavior: Guys don’t usually intend to force sex on a girl, but sometimes they get too sexually carried away.

Conclusions Findings may enhance sexual assault prevention training in high schools and colleges/universities, as well as public health campaigns aimed at improving social support for victims/survivors by targeting entrenched beliefs about rape myths that act as barriers to disclosure among victims/survivors.