Alexis Orr, & Dr. Lindsey Trimble O’Connor
Increasing public awareness and acknowledgment of sexual assault has illuminated both the alarming prominence of this issue, as well as its critical impact on health. Of current research investigating the health implications of sexual assault, there is not only little to no recognition of men, but furthermore, health is frequently measured outside of the medical realm and severe consequences (e.g., suicide) are commonly unarticulated. Utilizing the 2022 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health Survey to conduct secondary data analysis, I investigated gender differences in health outcomes and accessibility to support outlets, as well as the mediating effect of support outlets on health; gender differences were examined among all individuals and solely those who have been sexually assaulted. The overall sample included 4,196 participants (F = 2,394; M = 1,802), and the restricted sample of sexually assaulted individuals included 724 participants (F = 635, M = 89); participants range from ages 31-42. Results of the conducted bivariate analyses suggest that sexually assaulted men and women experience similar health outcomes and encounter similar levels of accessibility to support outlets, unlike the significant differences in health and outlet access among men and women in the overall population. Focusing on the role of support outlets as mediators of poor health, I found a positive relationship between having a support system and happiness. Results express promising relations between the manner in which institutions are managing the problem of sexual assault and how those who have been sexually assaulted perceive these methods. Furthermore, sexually assaulted men and women are being provided the opportunity to more thoroughly understand their health, as they engage in counseling equally and to a greater extent than men and women usually do.