Assault-related shame mediates the association between negative social reactions to disclosure of sexual assault and psychological distress.

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. DeCou ◽  
Trevor T. Cole ◽  
Shannon M. Lynch ◽  
Maria M. Wong ◽  
Kathleen C. Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
Negative Social Reactions

Social Reactions, Coping Strategies, and Self-Blame Attributions in Adjustment to Sexual Assault

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Ullman
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Self Blame ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Negative Social Reactions

The present study investigated the impact of social reactions of others to sexual-assault victims on disclosure of their victimization. A convenience sample of adult sexual-assault victims ( N = 155) completed a mail survey in which they reported information about their sexual assaults and postassault experiences. As expected, all negative social reactions were strongly associated with increased psychological symptoms, whereas most positive social reactions were unrelated to adjustment. The only social reactions related to better adjustment were being believed and being listened to by others. Victims experiencing negative social reactions also reported poorer adjustment even when other variables known to affect psychological recovery were controlled. Avoidance coping mediated the association of negative social reactions with adjustment. Implications of these findings for research and treatment of sexual-assault survivors are discussed.

A Mixed-Method Process Evaluation of an Intervention to Improve Social Reactions to Disclosures of Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052091858
Author(s):  
Emily A. Waterman ◽  
Katie M. Edwards ◽  
Meredith J. Baker ◽  
Sarah E. Ullman ◽  
Christina M. Dardis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Partner Abuse ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Data ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
Current Program ◽  
Program Engagement ◽  
Negative Social Reactions

Because of the high rates and deleterious consequences of sexual assault (SA) and partner abuse (PA) on college campuses, there is a proliferation of programming to both prevent and respond to these issues. Most research to date, however, presents outcome evaluation data on these programs and neglects to present process evaluation data which are critical for program refinement and dissemination. The purpose of this study was to present process evaluation data (i.e., acceptability and feasibility) specific to a program that endeavored to increase positive and decrease negative social reactions from disclosure recipients to individuals disclosing SA and PA. Participants were 303 students who completed the program and participated in postintervention surveys and a subset of students ( n = 18) who completed exit interviews. Results documented that the program was both feasible and acceptable, as evidenced by high satisfaction ratings. Important suggestions were also provided for how to improve the program, such as reducing repetition and making scenarios more realistic. Finally, participants who reported higher program engagement and more program usage generally reported more intentions to provide positive social reactions, less intentions to provide negative social reactions, and less actual negative social reactions. This information is useful not only for adapting the current program discussed herein but also for program developers and preventionists wishing to create similar programming to effectively prevent and improve response to SA and PA.

Correlates of Social Reactions to Victims’ Disclosures of Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483802110160
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Ullman
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Negative Social Reactions

Sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV) are common experiences in women, but few studies have examined correlates of social reactions experienced by victims telling others about assault. This systematic review identified 30 studies through searches of research databases on correlates of social reactions to disclosure of sexual assault or IPV in samples of adult victims or disclosure recipients. Studies showed evidence of greater negative social reactions for Black and Hispanic victims, less educated, and bisexual victims. More extensive trauma histories in victims were related to receipt of greater negative social reactions, whereas assault characteristics (e.g., victim–offender relationship, alcohol use, perpetrator violence during assault) were sometimes associated with negative reactions. In terms of postassault factors, more psychological symptoms, self-blame, avoidance coping, less perceived control, and less posttraumatic growth were related to more negative social reactions. Disclosure characteristics, telling informal sources, and telling more sources were related to more positive reactions, whereas telling both formal and informal sources was related to negative reactions. Demographic, attitudinal, and relational factors were related to disclosure recipients’ intended social reactions. Future research needs to examine how various factors relate to social reactions in the context of theory, and clinical treatment and interventions should use this information to identify and intervene with victims to reduce negative social reactions and their psychological impacts and to increase positive social reactions particularly from informal support sources.

The Role of Reactions to Disclosure in Mental Health Among Survivors of Sexual Assault

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
Amie R. Newins ◽  
Laura C. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Primary Reason ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Psychosocial Difficulties ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Negative Social Reactions

Although services and support have the potential to be helpful, a survivor’s trajectory toward recovery is contingent on the social reactions they receive. Given that fear of negative social reactions is the primary reason that sexual assault survivors delay disclosing or fail to disclose their victimization to others, we review numerous correlates of when and why survivors disclose their assault, typical social reactions survivors receive, the psychosocial impact of social reactions on survivors, and recommendations for ways providers can provide services that are more survivor-centered. Because nondisclosure limits the resources, services, and support available to survivors, it is important to understand what contributes to survivors’ decisions regarding if and when they tell others about their victimization. Furthermore, given the link between negative reactions and psychosocial difficulties, it is important to minimize the potential for a survivor to receive a harmful response from a provider.

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