POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT: PREDICTING SEVERITY OF SYMPTOMS CONSIDERING RAPE SITUATION VARIABLES AND SOCIAL SUPPORT
Abstract
A nonprobability sample of rape and sexual assualt victims (N = 29) was interviewed for information regarding details of their assualts, levels of current and pre-rage social support, and presence and severity of psychological distress. Prior to evaluating the relationships between these three groups of variables, the nature of the victims' distress symptomatology was studied. Subject's responses to two measures of distress were compared to the diagnostic criteria of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (see APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 1980); twenty-one (72.4%) displayed moderate or severe PTSD symptoms, while the remainder expressed few symptoms. Next, PTSD symptoms were regressed on social support and rape situation variables in order to determine predictors of distress. Violence-related characteristics of the assault demonstrated a modest relationship with symptomatology, as did pre-rape levels of social support. Together, pre-rape social support and violence predicted 32-42% of the variance in PTSD-related symptoms. Finally, the relationship between rape situation variables and social support was explored. Variables which appeared to be connected to stereotyped images of rape (such as acquaintanceship with the assailant and degree of violence) were strongly associated with changes in support from pre-rape to the time of the interview, predicting 50% of the variance in social support change.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Womens studies
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