Almost 20% of women raped; close to 40% victimized.

• Position: Sexual Assault - Brief Article

A study looking at the prevalence of sexual assault among women between 18 and 30 found that 38% had experienced victimization and almost 50% of that group had been raped, claims the Research Institute on Addictions at the University at Buffalo (N.Y.).

"Nearly half of the women reporting victimization [said] that they were raped, either due to physical force or because they were too incapacitated to resist," notes Maria Testa, lead researcher on the study and adjunct associate professor in the School of Social Work and research associate professor in the Department of Psychology. "Other types of sexual victimization reported included verbally coerced intercourse, attempted rape, and unwanted sexual contact."

Testa adds, "We know that women who have experienced victimization are at greater risk of it happening again. We are examining how prior risky behaviors play a role in multiple occurrences. We also want to know if women start drinking or exhibit risky behaviors in response to the victimization."

Sixty percent of the...