Physical and Sexual Assault, and Negative Perceptions of Health: Does Age of Onset Matter?

• In Event: Long Term Consequences of Victimization

Abstract

The negative health consequences of physical and sexual assault are fairly well established, yet factors that either attenuate or exacerbate these conditions are less recognized. This study examines the role of the age of onset of physical and sexual assault on overall perceptions of health and autonomy over health. Using a follow-up of the original Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study, we use the MIDUS-3 dataset to test the hypothesis that earlier age of assault onset is associated with negative perceptions of overall health and health autonomy. We find that physical and sexual assault are associated with greater negative perceptions of health but age of onset only matters for sexual assault. Assault and age of onset do not matter for health autonomy which is influenced more by personality characteristics. In conclusion, physical and sexual assault are related to overall perceptions of health and should be considered by medical professionals and social services when working with survivors of violence. Personality characteristics are influential in health outcomes and should be considered when offering health services to individuals. [Keywords: Autonomy, Health, Personality, Physical Assault, Sexual Assault]

Authors

• Jasmyn Stevens, Georgia Southern University

• Kristin Lloyd, Georgia Southern University

• Chad Posick, Georgia Southern University