Growing up with Media II

Sexual violence is a significant public health issue. The National Institutes of Justice estimate that over one million people are victims of rape and sexual assault each year, resulting in an annual $127 billion in associated victim costs. Adult domestic violence is estimated to affect 2.3 million victims and cost an additional $67 billion per year. Although serious sexual violence is common, a comprehensive understanding of how sexual violence perpetration develops is lacking. It is clear however, that sexually aggressive behaviors often emerge during youth. In response to the CDC’s call for Research Grants for Preventing Violence and Violence –Related Injury (RFA-CE-09-007), we have been funded to extend the follow-up of the Growing up with Media cohort for 24 months.

By following these youth for a total of six years, we will have longitudinal data across a critical developmental time period (10-21 years of age), allowing us to identify the emergence of sexually violent behavior and examine precursors for potential influence as risk and protective factors. This knowledge has the potential to enhance the development and timing of effective prevention programs aimed at perpetrators of sexual violence. This project is funded by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (R01 CE001543).