Effects of participation in a sexual assault risk reduction program on psychological distress following revictimization.
The current study followed women who participated in a sexual assault risk reduction program and a wait-list control group for 4 months. Those women in both groups who reported being revictimized (N = 147) were assessed to determine the effect of program participation on psychological distress. Intervention group participants reported a significant reduction in both psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms at follow-up relative to wait-list control participants, even after controlling for frequency of revictimization. Significantly fewer intervention participants met criteria for PTSD from Time 1 to Time 2. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated frequency and severity of victimization and behavioral and characterological self-blame, and use of avoidance coping explained a significant amount of the variance in distress following revictimization. Implications for future research and risk reduction programs are discussed.
Mouilso
Emily R
ER
University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Calhoun
Karen S
KS
Gidycz
Christine A
CA
D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult