title: Altruism in survivors of sexual violence: the typology of helping others.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual violence is a significant and prevalent problem that affects many people in the United States. Helping others is one way people cope with, or heal from, sexual violence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop of Typology of Helping Others describing how survivors of sexual violence engage in altruism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive methods were used to describe how survivors of sexual violence engaged in altruism in response to their experiences with violence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Helping others was a salient concern for most participants who experienced sexual violence. Participants indicated multiple and varied ways of helping others. Results also indicated that participants experienced some healing from their experiences before they were able to actively engage in, or be effective in, helping others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians working with survivors of sexual violence should be attuned to the different ways survivors engage in altruism and the potential influences of race and gender on helping others.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, OH, USA. awarner@kent.edu
authors.forename: Andrea Warner
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stidham
authors.forename: Claire B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Draucker
authors.forename: Donna S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Martsolf
authors.forename: Laura Paisley
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D000533:Altruism; D002321:Career Choice; D002651:Child Advocacy; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013060:Speech; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*