The impact of stress on health can depend on factors such as frequency, heightening of stress during a given period or the presence of one or a few repeated hassles of psychological importance. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how adult women experience and cope with daily hassles after sexual abuse. Ten interviews were analysed using the grounded theory method. The theoretical model of ‘protecting armor in daily life’ emerged. The aftermath of sexual abuse related coping with daily stress can be understood as a three‐phase process: (1) avoiding and escaping—coping after experiencing sexual abuse; (2) accepting and disclosing—starting a process of recovery; and (3) reconciling and repossessing—living with the experience in the present. The model contributes to a deeper understanding of the everyday life of women who have experienced sexual abuse. Increased knowledge of coping behaviours that can be used to deal with daily hassles may also serve as a tool for health professionals, other helpers and family to help these women rebuild a good life.

Experiencing trauma, such as sexual abuse, increases the risk of a negative health outcome. The aim of the present study was to compare two groups of female survivors of sexual abuse, one group with a lower indication of posttraumatic stress disorder (L-PTSD) and one with a higher indication of posttraumatic stress disorder (H-PTSD). We hypothesized that, with a history of sexual abuse, higher levels of PTSD symptoms would be associated with more daily hassles, fewer daily uplifts, and more maladaptive coping strategies, and that there would be more reporting of severe types of sexual victimization, less resourceful socioeconomic conditions and a lower level of emotional stability. A questionnaire, including measures of socioeconomic conditions, trauma experience, emotional stability (the Single-Item Measures of Personality), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), daily hassles and uplifts (the Stress Profile), and coping strategies (the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced [COPE] questionnaire), was completed by 57 female users at nine support centers for survivors of incest and sexual abuse in Norway. The results show that the H-PTSD group reported significantly more daily hassles, fewer daily uplifts, and more use of maladaptive coping strategies. The L-PTSD group reported more emotional stability, fewer daily hassles, and more uplifts, and used more adaptive coping strategies. However, few differences were found between the H-PTSD and the L-PTSD groups with regard to severity of sexual abuse and socioeconomic conditions. The results on the hassle, uplift, and coping scales are potentially interesting from an interventional point of view. Major life events such as sexual abuse may be out of control for the afflicted victim. Appraisal of and coping with everyday events, however, can be affected and offer interesting possibilities for interventions directed at the survivor, her significant others, and professional helpers.

Background Women who experience physical or sexual violence report poor self‐perceived health. Knowledge of daily hassles, daily uplifts and coping styles, as well as how these factors can affect health and well‐being among survivors of sexual abuse, is important for healthcare professionals to understand and target their needs. Aim The aim of the current study was to explore the association of daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping strategies and stress‐related symptoms among female survivors of sexual abuse. Methods A group of women (n = 57), exposed to sexual abuse, were recruited from nine support centres in Norway. Participants completed a questionnaire that addressed demographics, socioeconomic conditions, trauma history, daily hassles, daily uplifts, coping styles and stress‐related symptoms. Two groups of participants were compared: one group that had above‐median scores on uplifts and adaptive coping styles and one group that had above‐median scores on daily hassles and maladaptive coping styles. Results Results indicate that women who experienced more daily hassles and used maladaptive coping styles reported significantly more stress‐related symptoms, and particularly emotional symptoms, than women who experienced more daily uplifts and used adaptive coping styles. There were few differences between the two groups related to socioeconomic conditions and trauma history. Conclusion The results indicate that women in both groups struggle with stress‐related physical, emotional, cognitive and target group‐specific symptoms. However, high incidence of daily hassles and the use of maladaptive coping styles were associated with an increase in stress‐related symptoms. Novell’s findings indicate that despite severe traumatic experiences, adaptive coping styles and favourable perceptions of stress in everyday life were associated with a lower frequency of stress‐related symptoms. It may therefore be helpful to focus on altering maladaptive coping styles to reduce stress‐related symptoms among sexual abuse survivors.