@article{ref1,
title="Sexual assault and the association with health, quality of life, and self-efficacy in the general Norwegian population",
journal="Journal of interpersonal violence",
year="2020",
author="Schou-Bredal, Inger and Bonsaksen, Tore and Ekeberg, Øivind and Skogstad, Laila and Grimholt, Tine K. and Lerdal, Anners and Heir, Trond",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="The lifetime prevalence of sexual assault was examined in a representative sample of the general Norwegian adult population (n = 1,792), in addition to the association between sexual assault and health, quality of life, and general self-efficacy. Respondents completed questionnaires assessing these factors. Overall, 6.7% (n = 120) of the respondents (10.9% of women and 1.9% of men) reported an experience of sexual assault. Respondents in the sexual assault group reported significantly worse mental and physical health as well as poorer quality of life and lower self-efficacy, compared with those without sexual assault experience. The most prevalent mental problems in the sexual assault group were depression (61.7%), sleep problems (58.3%), eating disorders (26.7%), and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms at a clinical level (25.0%). The most prevalent physical problems were chronic pain (47.5%) and musculoskeletal disease (30.8%). The proportions of physical and mental health problems were not significantly different between male and female victims. <br><br>RESULTS indicated that having experienced sexual assault during one's life appears to be associated with lifetime occurrence of multiple health problems for both genders and reduces a person's perceived general self-efficacy and quality of life.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0886-2605",
doi="10.1177/0886260520926307",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886260520926307"
}