An Examination of Disclosure, Mental Health Treatment use, and Posttraumatic Growth Among College Women Who Experienced Sexual Victimization
Abstract
Few investigations have sought to identify factors associated with posttraumatic growth among survivors of sexual victimization. The present study examined the relationship between posttraumatic growth, disclosure, and mental health treatment use following sexual assault. Undergraduate female psychology students (N = 85), who reported a prior history of sexual victimization, completed measures assessing trauma exposure, posttraumatic growth, disclosure, and mental health treatment use. Results revealed that degree of disclosure of the assault to support sources and mental health treatment use following sexual assault was related to increased posttraumatic growth. Findings have valuable implications for treatment interventions for survivors of sexual trauma.
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Trauma disclosure has been associated with increased posttraumatic growth (PTG).
“Talking with others about traumatic experiences (i.e., trauma disclosure) has been associated with increased posttraumatic growth (PTG).”
From Feeling pressured to talk about trauma: How pressure to disclose alters the association between trauma disclosure and posttraumatic growth (2023) · cites this paper as Hassija & Turchik, 2016
Studies examining disclosures of sexual trauma have demonstrated a positive association between disclosure and self-perceived posttraumatic benefits.
“Studies examining disclosures of sexual trauma have demonstrated a positive association between disclosure and self-perceived posttraumatic benefits (Borja et al., 2006) as well as a meaningful association between the degree of disclosure and PTG (Hassija & Turchik, 2016).”
From Feeling pressured to talk about trauma: How pressure to disclose alters the association between trauma disclosure and posttraumatic growth (2023) · cites this paper as Hassija & Turchik, 2016
Disclosure facilitates PTG via processing.
“Consistent with research indicating that disclosure facilitates processing, there is evidence that disclosure facilitates PTG via processing.”
From Feeling pressured to talk about trauma: How pressure to disclose alters the association between trauma disclosure and posttraumatic growth (2023) · cites this paper as Hassija & Turchik, 2016
Cites
The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.2490090305 · Cited by 7,061 · cited 3× · see citing works
“The Postwar Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) was used to assess posttraumatic growth following participants’ self-reported sexual assault experience.”
BackgroundMethodPositive change following trauma and adversity: A review
Linley, P. A., & Joseph, S. (2004) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1023/b:jots.0000014671.27856.7e · Cited by 2,260 · see citing works
Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth
(2014) · Routledge · doi:10.4324/9781315805597 · Cited by 1,078 · see citing works
An ecological model of the impact of sexual assault on women's mental health
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Prati, G., & Pietrantoni, L. (2009) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325020902724271 · Cited by 978 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…survivors, posttraumatic growth has been associated with enhanced quality of life, meaning in one’s life, benefit finding, life satisfaction, and use of adaptive coping strategies, such as positive appraisal and religious coping (e.g., Cann, Calhoun, & Tedschi, 2010; Prati & Pietrantoni, 2009).”
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Positive and negative adjustment and social support of sexual assault survivors
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Kimbley, C. T., Cox, D. W., Kahn, J. H., & Renshaw, K. D. (2023) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.22930 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
- Authors
- Hassija, C. M., & Turchik, J. A.
- Affiliations
- California State University, San Bernardino (US)
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hassija, Christina M.
- Venue
- Journal of Loss and Trauma
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-05-29
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 124-136
- ISSN
- 1532-5024 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-5032
- OpenAlex
- W2264982972
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 1.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Loss and Trauma (publishedVersion)
- 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
- posttraumatic growth, sexual victimization, sexual assault, disclosure, female university students, trauma exposure, support seeking, sexual trauma survivors
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