Exploring Measurement Strategies for Identifying Multiple-Perpetrator Sexual Violence: Higher Prevalence Rates Than Past Research

Abstract

Prior research suggests that multiple-perpetrator sexual violence (e.g., gang rape) is very rare—reported by less than 2% of individuals. However, these estimates may be outdated and biased by measurement. The goal of this study was to explore the prevalence of multiple-perpetrator sexual violence and ways to measure it. Data were aggregated across several studies that shared similar methodology in recruiting online, anonymous samples of adults (Table 1). Study 1 evaluated victimization across five samples of 2491 participants. Study 2 evaluated perpetration across four samples of 2699 participants. All participants completed questionnaires in a randomized order. Reported prevalence rates for victimization were higher than prior research (1.5%) and ranged between 2.8% and 10.9% (Table 2) with an average of 4.86% (see Table 3). Multiple-perpetrator victimization items were significantly correlated with other victimization items suggesting validity, phi = 0.182–0.371. Reported prevalence rates of perpetration ranged from 0.8 to 18.9% with an average of 6.43%. Multiple-perpetrator perpetration items were significantly correlated with other perpetration items, suggesting validity, phi = 0.190–0.582. Our findings suggest that multiple-perpetrator sexual violence is more common than previously suggested. Psychometric analyses suggest initial validity, utility, and acceptability for all examined measures that should be further investigated in primary data collections.