Research studies have identified multiple study- and sample-related factors that predict variation in the proportion of participants who report experiences of rape (non-consensual oral, anal, or vaginal penetration obtained by force, threat of force, and/or victim incapacitation). The magnitude of variation introduced by these methodological variables is often unclear, which can complicate attempts to compare findings across research studies. With the goal of identifying and quantifying sources of variation, we conducted a meta-analysis that compared rates of rape experienced by women in the United States during adolescence or adulthood. 6391 research articles were evaluated for inclusion and 84 studies (89 independent samples) met inclusion criteria. Results of a random-effects meta-analysis found that an average of 17.0 % (95 % CI [15.7 %, 18.3 %]) of participants across samples reported experiences of rape in adolescence or adulthood. The mean participant age, source of the sample, perpetration tactics included in the measure, and interaction between sample source and perpetration tactics each predicted significant variation in the proportion of victims identified. Participant recruitment method, publication year, and the earliest age included in the reference period did not predict significant variation. These findings clarify the impact of methodological variables on observed victimization rates and provide context that can inform comparisons across sexual victimization studies.

研究已经确定了多个与研究和样本相关的因素，这些因素可以预测报告强奸经历的参与者比例的变化（通过武力、武力威胁和/或受害者丧失行为能力获得非自愿的口腔、肛门或阴道插入） 。这些方法变量带来的变异程度通常不清楚，这可能会使比较不同研究结果的尝试变得复杂。为了识别和量化变异来源，我们进行了一项荟萃分析，比较了美国女性在青春期或成年期间遭受强奸的比率。 6391 篇研究文章接受了纳入评估，其中 84 项研究（89 个独立样本）符合纳入标准。随机效应荟萃分析的结果发现，样本中平均有 17.0%（95% CI [15.7%, 18.3%]）的参与者报告在青春期或成年期遭受过强奸。参与者的平均年龄、样本来源、测量中包含的犯罪策略以及样本来源和犯罪策略之间的相互作用都预测了所识别的受害者比例的显着变化。参与者招募方法、发表年份和参考期中包含的最早年龄并没有预测显着变化。这些发现阐明了方法变量对观察到的受害率的影响，并提供了可以为性受害研究之间的比较提供信息的背景。