Prospective changes in attributions of self-blame and social reactions to women's disclosures of adult sexual assault.
The present longitudinal study examined relationships between self-blame attributions and social reactions to disclosure in a community sample of adult sexual assault victims ( N = 555). Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that neither characterological self-blame nor behavioral self-blame related to negative social reactions over the 1-year follow-up period. In contrast, characterological but not behavioral self-blame predicted fewer positive reactions over time. Although positive reactions did not reduce self-blame, negative reactions led to greater characterological, but not behavioral, self-blame during the course of the study. Thus, relationships between self-blame and social reactions were not reciprocal but rather quite complex. The effects of victims' coping strategies and sexual revictimization were also assessed.
Ullman
Sarah E
SE
University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. seullman@uic.edu
Najdowski
Cynthia J
CJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult