PTSD in the Year Following Sexual Assault: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

Dworkin, Emily R.; Jaffe, Anna E.; Bedard‐Gilligan, Michele; Fitzpatrick, Skye

doi:10.1177/15248380211032213

Cited by 75 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Our second research question addressed the probability of transitioning from one latent class into another over a 1-year period. Consistent with Dworkin et al’s (2021) findings that many sexual assault survivors report decreases in distress over time, our results indicated that 42–66% of participants in each latent class de-escalated into a lower severity class between Time 1 and Time 2. Because participants assigned to the highest severity class at Time 1 had no possibility of escalation and participants assigned to the lowest severity class at Time 1 had no possibility of de-escalation, the stability of these classes also informs the interpretation of escalation and de-escalation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…There are important areas for expansion within the wider sexual assault and PTSD literature as well. Dworkin’s (2021) meta-analysis found that 40% of U.S. studies on PTSD after sexual assault were based on samples at least two-thirds White, highlighting a need for PTSD research to be carried out with racially diverse samples. Additionally, much of the literature on sexual assault survivors’ experiences of PTSD is based on samples in the immediate aftermath of an assault (Armour et al, 2012; Dworkin et al, 2021; Steenkamp, Dickstein, et al, 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Longitudinal patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among sexual assault survivors: A latent transition analysis.

Goodman‐Williams¹,

Clark²,

Campbell³

et al. 2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: The aim of this study was to identify latent classes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a community sample of sexual assault survivors whose assaults occurred varying lengths of time in the past and to explore patterns of transition between those latent classes over time. Method: Latent class analysis was used to identify naturally occurring subgroups of PTSD symptoms in a sample of sexual assault survivors who completed two mailed surveys 1 year apart (N = 1,271). Latent transition analysis was then used to examine individuals’ probabilities of transitioning into each latent class at Time 2 based on their latent class membership at Time 1. Results: A four-class model emerged as the best fitting model at both Time 1 and Time 2. Classes demonstrated overall severity and symptom cluster severity differences. Transition into a lower severity class was more common than transition into a higher severity class, though escalation was demonstrated by 6–20% of participants in each latent class. Conclusions: The substantial heterogeneity in sexual assault survivors’ PTSD symptoms highlights the variety of ways that posttraumatic stress may be experienced years after a sexual assault. Future research should explore factors that affect long-term symptoms, including cumulative lifetime trauma and social support.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among sexual assault survivors: A latent transition analysis.

Goodman‐Williams¹,

Clark²,

Campbell³

et al. 2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similarly, sexual abuse as a traumatic experience has been reported by other authors [ 60 , 61 ] and related to PTSD symptoms. Results of a meta-analysis reported that 75% of sexual assault survivors met the criteria for PTSD after one month [ 62 ]. One explanation for this phenomenon in perinatal period is that pregnancy and delivery process may activate the woman’s experiences of abuse.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Involvement of Past Traumatic Life Events in the Development of Postpartum PTSD after Cesarean Delivery

et al. 2022

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Background: Although childbirth is considered a natural process, a high percentage of postpartum women consider it traumatic. Any previous traumatic event ina woman’s life can be revived through a traumatic birth experience, especially after a complicated vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between previous traumatic life events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in postpartum women after cesarean section and which specific events exerted the greatest influence. Methods: A sample of469 women who had undergone cesarean sections at a Greek university hospital consented to participate in this prospective study. Data from amedical/demographic questionnaire, life events checklist, perinatal stressor criterion A, and posttraumatic stress checklist were used to evaluate past traumatic life events and diagnose postpartum posttraumatic stress. Results: Out of 469 women, 25.97% had PTSD and 11.5% a PTSD profile, while 2.7% had PTSD and 2.7% a PTSDprofile. Also, it appeared that only specific direct exposure to a traumatic event and/or witnessing one were predictors ofpostpartum PTSD. Conclusions: This survey identified specific traumatic life events, psychiatric history, stressor perinatal criterion A, preterm birth, and emergency cesarean section as risk factors for the development of PTSD or a PTSD profile in women after cesarean delivery.

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“…Moreover, it is possible that less frequent discussion limits the recipient’s ability to process what happened to the victim leading to less confidence in their ability to help the victim. The finding that disclosure recipients perceived less victim blame when the DSV occurred longer ago compared to more recently could be due to the fact that victims are likely more distressed regarding recent DSV (Dworkin et al, 2021). This could lead a disclosure recipient to feel a greater need to help the victim leading to increased burden.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disclosure Recipients’ Perceptions Related to Helping Victims of Dating and Sexual Violence

Mauer

Edwards

Waterman

et al. 2022

J Interpers Violence

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To date, research on social reactions to dating and sexual violence (DSV) disclosure has largely neglected the perspective of disclosure recipients. Moreover, few studies have explored disclosure recipients’ perceptions of the victim and perceptions of their own effectiveness in helping as well as the correlates of these perceptions. The purpose of this study was to address these gaps in the literature. Participants were 783 college students (73.0% female) who reported receiving a DSV disclosure in the past 6 months. Participants who provided more negative social reactions to victim disclosures were less likely to empathize with the victim and more likely to feel victim blame/burdensomeness and confusion/ineffectiveness in their responses. Conversely, those providing more positive social reactions were more likely to empathize with the victim and were less likely to report victim blame/burdensomeness and confusion/ineffectiveness. Further, recipients with a DSV victimization history were more likely to report empathy for the victim. Being a man and having higher post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with greater victim blame/burdensomeness, while the victim approaching the recipient to disclose and DSV experiences that occurred long ago were associated with lower victim blame/burdensomeness. Finally, depressive symptoms, receiving disclosures from a stranger/casual friend, and less frequent discussion about the incident were significantly associated with increased confusion/ineffectiveness. These findings suggest that perceptions of the victim and helping effectiveness, and factors associated with them, may be promising targets of programs seeking to reduce negative and increase positive social reactions to DSV disclosures.

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PTSD in the Year Following Sexual Assault: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

Cited by 75 publications

References 82 publications

Longitudinal patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among sexual assault survivors: A latent transition analysis.

Longitudinal patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among sexual assault survivors: A latent transition analysis.

The Involvement of Past Traumatic Life Events in the Development of Postpartum PTSD after Cesarean Delivery

Disclosure Recipients’ Perceptions Related to Helping Victims of Dating and Sexual Violence

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