Citation

Bernstein EL, Newins AR. Violence Against Women 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/10778012221092470

PMID

35957611

Abstract

Following a sexual assault, women experience a host of negative psychological consequences. While some survivors label their sexual assault experience as such (i.e., are acknowledged survivors), other survivors do not. The effect of acknowledgment of sexual assault on postassault outcomes has yielded mixed findings. It was hypothesized that social reactions may account for the relationship between acknowledgment status and psychological symptoms.

RESULTS indicated that acknowledged survivors reported more severe posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, which were partially accounted for by turning against social reactions. Future studies should explore the mechanisms responsible for these relationships and analyze the individual social reactions.

Language: en

Keywords

sexual assault; acknowledgment status; psychological symptoms; social reactions to disclosure