Examining Measurement Invariance of the PTSBI-W across Victimization Age Groups

• In Event: Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Victimization

Abstract

Nonconsensual sexual experiences are prevalent among women with national data finding 43% experience victimization at some point in their lifetime (Smith et al., 2018). Research using a developmental approach finds victimization timing (e.g., child versus adult) effects women’s sexual well-being (Kilimnik & Meston, 2018). Consistent with trauma-focused (e.g., traumagenic dynamics) and evolutionary-developmental (e.g., life history) frameworks, this study examines developmental timing of sexual victimization and its association with post traumatic sexual behavior using data from 1,516 women’s online self-report surveys purchased from Qualtrics. The PTSBI-W (Ménard, Leri, & Pincus, 2024) is a brief 24-item instrument that can be a useful intervention tool to identify maladaptive sexual behavior. It has demonstrated measurement invariance across victims and non-victims and this study will expand the examination of measurement invariance to include developmentally identified victimization groups (i.e., none victimized, childhood/adolescence victimization, or adult victimization). Data reveal that 699 (46.11%) women experienced unwanted sexual victimization in their lifetime: 174 during childhood or adolescence only and 175 during adulthood only (156 repeat victims were not included in the analyses). After establishing invariance across age groups, ANOVA with Dunnett T3 post hoc test revealed significant group differences in mean PTSBI-W scores.

Authors

• Kim S. Ménard, Penn State Altoona

• Danielle J. DelPriore, Penn State Altoona