Using Dyadic Interviews to Examine Social Support in Female Sexual Assault Survivors

• In Event: Roundtable: Sexual Violence and Consent

Abstract

Positive social support for sexual assault survivors’ recovery process (Ullman, 2010). However, assault-specific social support that survivors receive in relationship to disclosures of sexual assault remains relatively understudied. Research has examined disclosure and social support experiences from survivors’ perspectives, but little is known about these experiences from the support providers’ perspectives. Even less is known about how these two perspectives compare to one another and their implications for interpersonal relationships and recovery. To explore the survivor-support provider dynamic of sexual assault disclosure and social support, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 45 matched-pairs of survivors and informal support providers, including significant others, friends, and family members. Data were collected as part of the final stage of a three wave longitudinal survey study of adult female sexual assault survivors in the Chicagoland area. In this presentation we will discuss our data collection methods and analytic processes for the unique qualitative dyadic data we have collected. Specifically, we will discuss participant retention and recruitment, codebook development, dyadic coding approaches, including the role of research team collaboration, and unanticipated challenges. We will also provide a brief overview of themes identified during preliminary thematic analyses emphasizing best practices for support providers.

Authors

• Amanda L. Vasquez, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Katherine Lorenz, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Anne Kirkner, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Sarah E. Ullman, University of Illinois at Chicago