Psychometrics & Utility of a Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Questionnaire and Website
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Authors
Putnam, Asha
Issue Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Sexual misconduct encompasses illegal and often traumatic, nonconsensual sexual behaviors ranging from privacy breaches to penetration. Sexual misconduct occurs more frequently than the rate it is reported, hindering the survivor’s ability to heal and pursue justice. Due to the adverse mental and physical health effects associated with sexual misconduct, psychological, social, and legal services exist. However, access to these resources is limited and disparate, hindering many people’s ability to feel empowered to pursue prosecution through the formal disclosure process. This study aimed (1) to further psychometrically evaluate the Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Questionnaire (SMDQ) so that it can be used to identify relevant barriers to the formal disclosure process. It also aimed (2) to evaluate the efficacy of a resources website in promoting survivors’ willingness to pursue formal disclosure by providing relevant resources for barriers addressed in the SMDQ. A randomly controlled trial was used to gain information on the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the SMDQ. The efficacy of its associated website was also assessed for its ability to increase knowledge about overcoming barriers. The SMDQ demonstrated strong psychometric properties of construct validity and test-retest reliability, identifying privacy concerns, insufficient evidence, and shame as the most common barriers to disclosure. While the pilot website performed comparably to the control condition, it did not significantly increase willingness to report. These findings highlighted that barriers rarely exist independently and are major challenges requiring reform on the individual and institutional levels. Future research should explore how incorporating standardized tools such as the SMDQ in disclosure processes can promote reporting rates and survivor outcomes.