Awareness of a rape crisis center and knowledge about sexual violence among high school adolescents

Abstract

Study objective: This study examined awareness among adolescents of a local rape crisis center as well as their knowledge about sexual violence.

Design: The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC) conducts sexual violence prevention programs for high school students. A written, anonymous survey was distributed to students prior to the start of the program. Students were asked if they had heard of the CRCC; knowledge about sexual violence was assessed with a series of 7 statements (rape myths) that participants identified as true or false. Surveys were reviewed retrospectively. Analyses were carried out for individual questions and frequencies compared using chi-square analysis.

Results: A total of 1633 surveys were collected; 1118 (68.5%) participants were female and 514 (31.5%) were male; ages ranged from 12 to 19 years. Respondents described themselves as being of European descent (45.9%), African descent (26.2%), or mixed race (17.7%). Just over half (863, 52.9%) of survey respondents had heard of the CRCC. Over half (950, 58.2%) of participants answered 5 or more questions correctly (range of correct answers 0 to 7). In general, more participants who were aware of the CRCC were able to identify statements about rape correctly (P < .01 for statements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7, P < .001 for ≥ 5 correct). Age, gender, and race were all significantly associated with knowledge about rape. Females were consistently more likely to get an answer correct, as were participants of European descent.

Conclusion: Awareness of the CRCC was associated with increased knowledge about sexual violence.

Keywords: Adolescents; Rape crisis centers; Rape myths; Sexual assault; Sexual violence; Violence.