“The Global Sense of Disaster was Synchronized With my Own Disaster”: Implications of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Wellbeing of Survivors of Sexual Violence

Abstract

The present study is designed to improve our understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as collective trauma, on the wellbeing of survivors of sexual violence (SV). The data are based on an online qualitative survey about the experiences of 39 survivors and a thematic analysis of ten in-depth interviews with service providers in Israel. The findings reveal that the pandemic and restrictive measures are associated with increased risk for participants’ wellbeing, caused directly by pandemic characteristics, as well as indirectly through the denial of access to coping resources. Paradoxically, the pandemic also offers relief, given the widespread restrictions imposed on the entire population and the general crisis atmosphere. The service providers’ perspective indicates an increased demand for services as well as for their adjustment. These findings highlight the vulnerability of individuals with a history of SV and the need for accommodation of frontline SV services for health crises.

COVID‐19 coping experiences of individuals with schizophrenia: A grounded theory approach in Korea

“…Because individuals with schizophrenia already had limited interpersonal relationships even before the COVID‐19 pandemic, they felt comfortable during the initial social distancing period because they could hide behind their facial masks and could stay in the comfort of their homes. This aligns with previous findings that victims of sexual violence were relieved by social distancing during the COVID‐19 pandemic because they could stay home and protect themselves from the outside world (Gueta & Klar‐Chalamish, 2022). However, even during these times, individuals with schizophrenia were desperate for social interactions.…”

“…They felt consoled by this situation as if their past suffering in the psychiatric ward and isolated life were being healed. This is because COVID‐19 led to equal restrictions for everyone (Gueta & Klar‐Chalamish, 2022), and the equitable experience of the pandemic may increase the general population's understanding of and interest in the lives of people with schizophrenia. In other words, an equal position without discrimination itself becomes an element of healing; this suggests that professional efforts are required to improve the social awareness of individuals with schizophrenia.…”