title: Posttraumatic stress disorder among female victims of sexual assault in China: prevalence and psychosocial factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic stressors one may experience in life. Although studies have investigated the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated psychosocial factors on victims of sexual assault internationally, such studies in Mainland China are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred thirt-three Chinese females (aged 17-38) victims of sexual assault were surveyed in three Guangdong province cities (Guangzhou city, Shenzhen city, and Huizhou city). The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, PTSD Checklist Civilian Version, Social Support Rating Scale, and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of PTSD in Chinese female victims of sexual assault was 15.25% (34/223). Six psychosocial factors were found to be significant for PTSD symptomatology, including objective support (β = -1.01, P = 0.001), subjective support (β = -0.59, P < 0.001), support utilization (β = -1.03, P = 0.005), negative coping style (β = 0.58, P < 0.001), positive coping style (β = -0.44, P < 0.001), and neuroticism (β = 0.48, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that negative coping bias and neuroticism were predisposing risk factors that increase PTSD symptoms, while objective support, subjective support, support utilization, and positive coping style were protective factors for PTSD following sexual assault, and provide prima facie evidence for posttrauma intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Trauma Assistance, SpringCare Stress Intervention Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central-South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Shuang Ge
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Ling Sophia
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liu Yue
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ling Jiang
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; PTSD; prevalence; psychosocial factor; sexual assault