Identifying Risk Factors for PTSD in Women Seeking Medical Help after Rape

Möller, Anna; Bäckström, Torbjörn; Söndergaard, Hans Peter; Helström, Lotti

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111136

Cited by 56 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Given the widespread belief that unemployment leads to psychological depression, it is possible that sexual assault may reflect a cumulative effect in increasing the risk to the development of the symptoms of depression among the unemployed female survivors of rape in the current study. The findings in this study provide support to previous research indicating that unemployment increase the risk and likelihood for depression among survivors of rape (Abrahams et al, 2013; Möller et al, 2014). …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…physical injury, severity of sexual victimization) in predicting the risk of PTSD in victims of sexual assault (Abrahams, Jewkes and Mathews,2013; Ulman & Philipas, 2001; Acierno, Resnick, Kilpatrick, Saunders and Best, (1999). The findings in these studies suggest injury during rape as one of the risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in rape victims (Cook et al, 2013; Tiihonen Möller et al, 2014). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Möller et al (2014) found that perceived life threat and having been injured during rape were significant risk factors for PTSD amongst rape survivors at 6 months after the assault. Whilst some of the studies have strongly confirmed the effects of rape severity in PTSD, these are mixed partially because other research has found no association between the severity of assault and development of PTSD following rape victimization (Abrahams et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Black (African and Colored) rape survivors from Cape Town reported very high levels of depression symptoms than those in other sites of the study. Further, unemployment has also been significantly associated with symptoms of depression post rape (Abrahams et al, 2013, Möller et al, 2014). Conversely, inconsistent results have been found for the other demographic characteristics of age, marital status, education and ethnicity (Frazier et al, 1997, Möller et al, 2014, Ullman & Filipas, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, unemployment has also been significantly associated with symptoms of depression post rape (Abrahams et al, 2013, Möller et al, 2014). Conversely, inconsistent results have been found for the other demographic characteristics of age, marital status, education and ethnicity (Frazier et al, 1997, Möller et al, 2014, Ullman & Filipas, 2001). Understanding the specific aspects of the socio-demographics and individual background factors relating to development of stress and depression post rape is critical.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk factors for PTSD and depression in female survivors of rape.

Mgoqi-Mbalo¹,

Zhang²,

Ntuli³

2017

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective To investigate association of the socio-demographic factors, characteristics of rape and social support to the development of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder at six months after the rape. Methods A cross-sectional survey with female survivors of rape was carried out in three provinces of South Africa six months after the rape. Results One hundred female survivors s of sexual assault were interviewed. More than half (53%) were from Limpopo, (25%) from Western Cape and (22%) from KwaZulu -Natal. 87% reported high levels of PTSD and (51%) moderate to severe depression post-rape. The major risk factors for PTSD and depression were the unmarried survivors of rape and those living in KZN. The female survivors of rape in KZN province were seven times more likely to experience symptoms of depression compared to other provinces, while married/cohabiting female rape survivors were six times less likely to report symptoms of depression compared to the unmarried female rape survivors. Conclusion These findings add support to existing literature on PTSD and depression as common mental health consequence of rape and also provide evidence that survivors’ socio- demographics – marital status, employment status are significant contributors to the development of symptoms of depression and PTSD after rape. The results have research and clinical practice relevance for ensuring that PTSD and trauma treatment focuses on an in-depth understanding of the various aspects of the socio demographic factors and rape characteristics that contribute to survivors’ mental state and how these compound stress and depression symptoms over time post-rape victimization.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Risk factors for PTSD and depression in female survivors of rape.

Mgoqi-Mbalo¹,

Zhang²,

Ntuli³

2017

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Post‐traumatic stress disorder and related factors among female victims of sexual assault required to attend a University Hospital in Turkey: A cross‐sectional cohort study

Karataş

Altınöz

Eşsizoğlu

2020

Criminal Behav Ment Health

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BackgroundPost‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common consequences of sexual assault, but it is not invariable.AimOur aim was to investigate pre‐, peri‐ and post‐traumatic factors associated with post‐traumatic stress disorder among adult women who had been sexually assaulted.MethodsAll women attending a specialist university clinic for victims of sexual assault referred by the courts for a mental health assessment were invited to participate. At the time, the Turkish penal code required such referral (the year up to September 2015). Consenting women completed a sociodemographic information form, the Traumatic Stress Symptom Checklist, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Short Form‐36 reflecting perceived quality of life, the Beck Depression Scale and the Beck Anxiety Scale.ResultsSixty women were eligible and agreed to participate. Two‐thirds of them (41, 68%) reported features of PTSD. In bivariate analyses, the women with PTSD also rated themselves as having a wide range of health and social disadvantages. Self‐perceived poverty of social support and having suicidal thoughts were independently associated with PTSD.ConclusionsAlthough the rate of mental health and social problems among the women with PTSD were high, less than a third had actually sought help for their difficulties. While a requirement in the penal code that such women should have a psychiatric assessment seems over‐intrusive and has since been dropped, our findings suggest that more efforts should be made to ensure that such women have help available if they want it.

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