Citation

Carson KW, Babad S, Brown EJ, Brumbaugh CC, Castillo BK, Nikulina V. Violence Against Women 2019; ePub(ePub): 1077801219832913.

Affiliation

The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York City, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801219832913

PMID

30870113

Abstract

Disclosure of traumatic experiences is typically encouraged and associated with positive outcomes. However, there is limited research on nondisclosure of sexual trauma and consequent symptomology. This online study of undergraduate females examines reasons for nondisclosure and associated symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Of 221 participants who reported sexual victimization, 25% had not previously disclosed it. Four reasons for nondisclosure were identified: shame, minimization of experience, fear of consequences, and privacy. Nondisclosers who minimized the experience and nondisclosers low on shame reported fewer PTSD symptoms than disclosers. These findings suggest that reasons for nondisclosure are associated with symptomology.

Language: en

Keywords

PTSD; disclosure; sexual assault