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Cited by 44Sexual Assault and Victimization StudiesPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and Trauma

Risk factors for PTSD and depression in female survivors of rape

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Mgoqi-Mbalo, Nolwandle, Zhang, Muyu, Ntuli, Sam·2017·Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
DOI 10.1037/tra0000228PMC PMC5411289
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate association of the sociodemographic factors, characteristics of rape and social support to the development of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder at 6 months after the rape. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey with female survivors of rape was carried out in 3 provinces of South Africa 6 months after the rape. RESULTS: One hundred female survivors s of sexual assault were interviewed. More than half (53%) were from Limpopo, 25% from Western Cape, and 22% from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). 87% reported high levels of PTSD and 51% moderate to severe depression post rape. The major risk factors for PTSD and depression were the unmarried survivors of rape and those living in KZN. The female survivors of rape in KZN province were 7 times more likely to experience symptoms of depression compared to other provinces, while married/cohabiting female rape survivors were 6 times less likely to report symptoms of depression compared to the unmarried female rape survivors. CONCLUSION: These findings add support to existing literature on PTSD and depression as common mental health consequence of rape and also provide evidence that survivors' socio- demographics-marital status, employment status-are significant contributors to the development of symptoms of depression and PTSD after rape. The results have research and clinical practice relevance for ensuring that PTSD and trauma treatment focuses on an in-depth understanding of the various aspects of the sociodemographic factors and rape characteristics that contribute to survivors' mental state and how these compound stress and depression symptoms over time post rape victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record

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  • Depression, perceived stress and problematic alcohol use are highly comorbid with PTSD and prevalent following rape.

    “Depression, perceived stress and problematic alcohol use are highly comorbid with PTSD and prevalent following rape (Möller et al., 2014;Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017;Bryant-Davis et al., 2010;Breslau et al., 2000;Resnick et al., 2013;Resnick et al., 2012;Testa et al., 2007;Kaysen et al., 2006;Kilpatrick et al., 2003).”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017

  • Depression and alcohol use covary with PTSD symptom severity postrape.

    “and both covary with PTSD symptom severity postrape (Möller et al., 2014;Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017;Bryant-Davis et al., 2010;Breslau et al., 2000;Resnick et al., 2013;Resnick et al., 2012;Testa et al., 2007;Kaysen et al., 2006;Kilpatrick et al., 2003).”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017

  • Being single 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 Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017

  • Inconsistent findings have been reported for rape and sexual assault survivors regarding childhood trauma and cumulative lifetime trauma as predictors of PTSD, with some support for the non-significant multivariate findings in our study.

    “but inconsistent findings have been reported for rape and sexual assault survivors, with some support for the non-significant multivariate findings in our study (Elklit and Christiansen, 2013;Möller et al., 2014;Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017;Ullman et al., 2007;Bryant-Davis et al., 2010;Nishith et al., 2000).”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017

  • Previous studies investigating assault-related variables have reported inconsistent findings.

    “Previous studies investigating assault-related variables have reported inconsistent findings (Elklit and Christiansen, 2013;Möller et al., 2014;Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017;Ullman et al., 2007;Ullman and Filipas, 2001).”

    From Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape (2022) · cites this paper as Mgoqi-Mbalo et al., 2017

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Authors
Mgoqi-Mbalo, N., Zhang, M., & Ntuli, S.
Affiliations
  • University of Limpopo (ZA)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (ZA)
Corresponding author
Mgoqi-Mbalo, Nolwandle
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2017
Volume
9
Issue
3
Pages
301-308
ISSN
  • 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
  • 1942-969X
DOI
10.1037/tra0000228
PMC
PMC5411289
OpenAlex
W2580665091
Cited by
44
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2
FWCI
6.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
Fogarty International Center (D43TW007278)
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, depression, rape victims, sexual assault, women survivors, risk factors, marital status, social support, sociodemographic factors, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Rape, Risk Factors, South Africa, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Survivors, Young Adult

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