title: Adaptive strategies and recovery from rape.
abstract: The authors conducted a follow-up study of 81 rape victims to analyze the effect of adaptive or maladaptive response to rape on recovery over a 4-6 year period. They found that victims recovering fastest used more adaptive strategies, including positive self-assessment; defense mechanisms of explanation, minimization, suppression, and dramatization; and increased action. Victims who had not yet recovered had more maladaptive mechanisms, such as negative self-assessments, inaction, substance abuse, and action on suicidal thoughts.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011902:Rape; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology