Poster #45 - Correlates of Survivors’ Satisfaction with Informal Support Relationships Post-Disclosure

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

Sexual assault (SA) is a prevalent issue with long-term impacts. One outcome for survivors’ well-being is their relationships post-assault. While previous research has focused on the effect of SA on couples, there is less research that have examined the impact on relationships with friends and family members. The current study examines correlates of survivors’ relationship satisfaction with their informal SP following SA disclosure. Female sexual assault survivors, aged 18 or older, residing in the Chicago metropolitan area, who disclosed an unwanted SA to someone in their lives, were eligible for this study. Several sets of variables were examined including demographic, pre-assault, relationship, and post-assault factors. A composite regression model showed that several variables were significantly related to higher levels of relationship satisfaction with the informal SP told about assault, including: being White, identifying as Hispanic or Latina(x) ethnicity, having a higher level of education, greater relationship importance, experiencing more positive social support upon disclosure, and being more satisfied with social support from SP. The results of this study have implications for clinicians who work with survivors and their loved ones as well as educators who work to improve the responses to sexual assault survivors.

Authors

• Casey Harris, University of Illinois Chicago

• Sarah E. Ullman, University of Illinois Chicago