Self-defense/assertiveness training, women's victimization history, and psychological characteristics

Little research has been conducted to determine which characteristics and experiences affect women's choices to enroll in sef-defense/assertiveness training. The present study examined the role of self-defense/assertiveness training in women's lives using data from 3,187 female. college students. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that women with multiple forms of childhood victimization (e.g., both child sexual and physical abuse) were almost twice as likely to participate in self-defense/assertiveness training. Training participants also reported more positive instrumental traits (e.g., independence) and less sexual conservatism than nonparticipants. Implications for future research evaluating self-defense programs are discussed.