Immediate Coping Strategies Among Rape Victims

Abstract

This study provides descriptive information on the coping strategies used by rape victims and assesses the relations between coping strategies and symptoms in the immediate postrape period. Responses to 20 coping items suggested that taking precautions and thinking positively were among the most frequently endorsed coping strategies. Expressing feelings, seeking social support, counseling, and keeping busy were most often listed as helpful by victims on an open‐ended question. Staying home and withdrawing were associated with higher symptom levels: keeping busy, thinking positively, and suppressing negative thoughts were associated with lower symptom levels. Implications for counseling and research are discussed.

What factors predict women's disclosure of sexual assault to mental health professionals?

“…Some women who experience PTSD or depression because of sexual assault attempt to cope by avoiding thoughts and feelings associated with the unwanted sexual experience. Previous research shows that avoidance coping, although related to increased psychological distress, may result in women's refusal to seek follow-up counseling immediately after assault~Fra-zier & Burnett, 1994;Santello & Leitenberg, 1993! due to their efforts to try to forget about the assault~Frazier, Rosenberger, & Moore, 2000!.…”

Exploring Influences on Mental Health After Interpersonal Violence Against Women

“…Maladaptive beliefs in particular played a role in increasing distress (Koss, Figueredo, & Prince, 2002), as did withdrawal or avoidance forms of coping that also contributed to increased depression and PTSD (Frazier & Burnett, 1994;Littleton, 2007). Resiliency factors were minimally present in the literature, however increased adjustment was found to take place in women who took precautions and thought positively (Frazier & Burnett, 1994). Moreover, those who practiced a form of wishful thinking were found to have decreased risk for PTSD with positive distancing (Valentiner, Foa, Riggs, & Gershuny, 1996).…”

College Women's Likelihood to Report Unwanted Sexual Experiences to Campus Agencies: Trends and Correlates

“…Furthermore, women who do not report incidents of sexual victimization may not be exposed to potential resources and services that may aide in their recovery (Frazier & Burnett, 1994;Ruch, Coyne, & Perrone, 2000). Finally, utilization of data that includes only reported estimates of sexual victimization, which vastly underestimates the prevalence of sexual assault, may lead to policy and planning decisions that do not recognize the severity of sexual victimization on college campuses (Fisher et al, 2003;Skogan, 1976).…”