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Cited by 268Sexual Assault and Victimization StudiesPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and Trauma

Psychosocial correlates of PTSD symptom severity in sexual assault survivors

Ullman, Sarah E., Filipas, Henrietta H., Townsend, Stephanie M., Starzynski, Laura L.·2007·Journal of Traumatic Stress
DOI 10.1002/jts.20290
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Abstract

This study's goal was to assess the effects of preassault, assault, and postassault psychosocial factors on current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of sexual assault survivors. An ethnically diverse sample of over 600 female sexual assault survivors was recruited from college, community, and mental health agency sources (response rate = 90%). Regression analyses tested the hypothesis that postassault psychosocial variables, including survivors' responses to rape and social reactions from support providers, would be stronger correlates of PTSD symptom severity than preassault or assault characteristics. As expected, few demographic or assault characteristics predicted symptoms, whereas trauma histories, perceived life threat during the assault, postassault characterological self-blame, avoidance coping, and negative social reactions from others were all related to greater PTSD symptom severity. The only protective factor was survivors' perception that they had greater control over their recovery process in the present, which predicted fewer symptoms. Recommendations for intervention and treatment with sexual assault survivors are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1002/jts.20290

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  • Resilience is a protective factor against the development of PTSD.

    “Another protective factor against the development of PTSD is resilience (Elklit and Christiansen, 2013;Ullman et al., 2007;Ullman et al., 2006).”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Ullman et al., 2007

  • Internalised rape stigma, mediated by external stigma, is a significant predictor of PTSD symptom severity.

    “Internalised rape stigma (e.g.self-blaming, embarrassment, shame and guilt), mediated by external stigma (e.g.victim blaming, downplaying the severity of the rape, treating the victim differently) (Moor and Farchi, 2011;Ullman et al., 2007;Ullman and Filipas, 2001;Ullman et al., 2006), has been found to be a significant predictor of PTSD symptom severity in a number of studies”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Ullman et al., 2007

  • Adult cumulative lifetime trauma exposure increases the likelihood of PTSD post-rape.

    “Childhood trauma exposure (Ullman et al., 2007;Bryant-Davis et al., 2010;Nishith et al., 2000) and adult cumulative lifetime trauma exposure (Elklit and Christiansen, 2013;Möller et al., 2014;Ullman et al., 2007) has been found to increase the likelihood of PTSD post-rape across several studies.”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Ullman et al., 2007

  • Younger age is associated with an increased risk for the development of PTSD in rape exposed samples.

    “For example, younger age (Ullman et al., 2007), being single (Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017), a lower level of education (Ullman and Filipas, 2001) and lower income (Bryant-Davis et al., 2010) has been associated with an increased risk for the development of PTSD in rape exposed samples”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Ullman et al., 2007

  • Childhood trauma exposure increases the likelihood of PTSD post-rape.

    “Childhood trauma exposure (Ullman et al., 2007;Bryant-Davis et al., 2010;Nishith et al., 2000) and adult cumulative lifetime trauma exposure (Elklit and Christiansen, 2013;Möller et al., 2014;Ullman et al., 2007) has been found to increase the likelihood of PTSD post-rape across several studies.”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Ullman et al., 2007

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Authors
Ullman, S. E., Filipas, H. H., Townsend, S. M., & Starzynski, L. L.
Affiliations
University of Illinois Chicago (US)
Corresponding author
Ullman, Sarah E.
ORCID
Ullman, Sarah E.
Venue
Journal of Traumatic Stress
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-10
Volume
20
Issue
5
Pages
821-831
ISSN
  • 0894-9867 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6598
DOI
10.1002/jts.20290
OpenAlex
W2066871586
Cited by
266
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 10
FWCI
28.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 21 d)
Locations
  • Journal of Traumatic Stress (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA13455, R01AA013455)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault survivors, PTSD symptom severity, psychosocial factors, self-blame, avoidance coping, perceived life threat, social reactions, trauma history, rape
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Psychology, Regression Analysis, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Offenses, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Survivors

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