Sexual violence is a pervasive social problem in the United States that affects has long-term negative health consequences for children, adolescents, and adults. While some survivors choose to disclose their victimization to informal or formal resources, others choose to access a third, less studied source of support: online sexual assault crisis lines. Anonymous online hotlines allow survivors a confidential space to disclose sexual victimization and may be particularly beneficial for those who have not previously disclosed or are facing barriers to accessing other services. The current study utilized data from a national anonymous online hotline to answer two main research questions, guided by Liang and colleagues (2005) Model of Helpseeking and Change. First, are there latent classes of hotline sessions that differ based on victim and assault characteristics, and second, do these latent classes account for variation in disclosure behaviors among victims. Results revealed a four-class solution and relationships between class membership and disclosure behavior were identified. Findings suggest that anonymous online sexual assault hotlines are an instrumental resource that can both address survivors’ immediate needs and build bridges to sustainable, long-term support networks. Implications for practice are discussed.
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