Sexual Assault Resistance Education’s Benefits for Survivors of Attempted and Completed Rape

Abstract The effectiveness of the Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) program in reducing victimization and impacting other outcomes (mediators of program effects) was demonstrated in a randomized controlled trial. A planned analysis showed that program effects on sexual assault were not significantly different for survivors of completed rape and other women. The present article investigated whether the impact of EAAA on incidence of rape and attempted rape and on the mediators of EAAA’s effectiveness (e.g., situational risk detection, direct resistance, self-defense self-efficacy) was strengthened or weakened for women with a history of victimization (i.e., history of rape, attempted rape, or neither). EAAA’s impact on self-blame for women who experienced rape after program participation was also assessed. Data from 851 women who received either EAAA or a control intervention were examined. Regardless of victimization history, participants benefited from EAAA to some degree (28%–85% relative risk reduction). Prior victimization was not a significant moderator of the variables that mediate EAAA’s effectiveness, suggesting EAAA functions similarly for women regardless of victimization history. Finally, women who were raped post-intervention blamed themselves significantly less after taking EAAA than women in the control group. This effect was found both for rape survivors and women with no history of victimization but not for attempted rape survivors. These results contribute to the #MeToo movement(s) by showing the power of feminist resistance education as well as areas where program adaptation or boosters are needed.