Assessing Risks for Being a Victim of Sexual Violence Information compiled by Rowan Frost, Community Outreach Liaison, Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault

The following are characteristics or behaviors exhibited by some people who were victims of sexual violence. It is important to remember the following:
1. These risks and factors are not reasons that people were victimized. These are common responses to sexual violence. In other words, the first victimization usually occurred before the individual manifested the characteristic or behavior.
2. These risks and factors are not diagnostic or predictive tools. They occur more among populations with a high percentage of survivors; this does not mean that every person in the population can be assumed to have a history of sexual violence.
3. Each person's response to sexual trauma is unique. People who display none of these characteristics or behaviors may also be survivors.
4. These are not excuses. People are not to blame for what has happened to them, but they are responsible for their own behavior.

Characteristics and behaviors associated with a history of sexual violence:
This list may be useful in assessing an individual's possibility of having been hurt by sexual violence. Although most people feel it is appropriate for medical providers to ask about sexual violence, in some settings a person may not feel safe doing so. Both assertions and denials of sexual victimization should be respected. When appropriate, referrals to sexual violence support resources should be made. It is often counterproductive to require that a victim seek resources, since this may be experienced as coercive and intrusive.

_____ Substance abuse or alcoholism
_____ Bulimia Self-mutilation (cutting, burning, etc.)
_____ High numbers of sexual partners (promiscuity/hyper sexuality)
_____ High-risk sexual activity (included unprotected sex)
_____ History of prostitution or other sex work
_____ Teenage pregnancy (women)
_____ Teenage partner pregnancy (men)
_____ Incarceration (men and women)
_____ Increased arrests for violence (among women)
_____ Perpetrating sexual violence against others
_____ Diagnosis of sexually transmitted disease
_____ Diagnosis of HIV infection
_____ Having a parent who was sexually abused
_____ Having a child who was sexually abused
_____ Revictimization (the biggest predictor for adult rape is a history of having been raped)
_____ Attempted suicide
_____ Chronic physical problems, including chronic pelvic pain, bladder infections, and headaches
_____ Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (hyperarousal, "oppositional" behavior, intrusive memories, nightmares)
_____ Sexual dysfunction
_____ Difficulty in negotiating safer sex, especially fear of partner's response
_____ Depression
_____ Anxiety disorders