NCJ Number
177995
Journal
Journal of Abnormal Psychology Volume: 105 Issue: 3 Dated: August 1996 Pages: 455-458
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The coping behaviors and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among 215 female victims of sexual assault (n=103) and nonsexual assault (n=112) were assessed within 2 weeks following the assault (Time 1); 133 of these women (62 percent) were also assessed, 3 months later (Time 2).
Abstract
The subjects were recruited through advertisements, emergency room staff, or police officers. They were included if they were assault victims; had no history of organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, or paranoid disorder; were literate in English; were between ages 17 and 65; and had not been assaulted by a family member or within an ongoing abusive relationship. The severity of the symptoms of posttrauma stress decreased significantly during the 3-month study period, but PTSD severity levels at Times 1 and 2 were highly correlated. Three coping scales were constructed on the basis of explanatory factor analysis: Mobilizing Support, Positive Distancing, and Wishful Thinking. Rape victims had higher levels of wishful thinking and PTSD than did victims of nonsexual assaults. Wishful thinking showed a positive association and positive distancing a negative association with PTSD severity when controlled for assault type, initial severity of PTSD symptoms, and other coping strategies. Findings suggested that coping through fantasy and self-blame impede recovery from traumatic assault, whereas cognitive distancing may facilitate recovery. Tables and 21 references (Author abstract modified)