Mediators of Different Sexual Assault Types and PTSD in Community-Residing Women

• In Event: Psychosocial Mediators of Recovery Outcomes in Sexual Assault Survivors

Abstract

Sexual assaults vary in the types of tactics used by perpetrators, namely violence or alcohol (Abbey & Jacques-Tiura, 2011; Brown et al., 2009). This study examines how assault characteristics (i.e., levels of violence, subjective distress, alcohol consumption, perpetrator identity) relate to PTSD symptoms, and whether these effects are mediated by post-assault social and psychological reactions. A large community sample of women sexual assault survivors completed two mail surveys at a one-year interval. Consistent with prior research, cluster analyses revealed the existence of three general types: “high violence”, “alcohol-related”, and “moderate severity.” Alcohol-related assaults resulted in fewer PTSD symptoms than high violence assaults at Time 1, but not at Time 2. Alcohol-related and violent assaults resulted in more PTSD symptoms than moderate-severity assaults at both times. The effect of assault types on Time 2 PTSD was mediated by Time 1 self-blame and maladaptive coping. The importance of considering effects of violence and alcohol consumption during the assault to better understand post-assault PTSD, including implications for theory and practice, are presented.

Authors

• Sarah E. Ullman, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Liana Peter-Hagene, University of Illinois at Chicago