Examining cultural, social, and self-related aspects of stigma in relation to sexual assault and trauma symptoms.
The current study investigated a model explaining sexual assault victims' severity of trauma symptoms that incorporated multiple stigma constructs. Integrating the sexual assault literature with the stigma literature, this study sought to better understand trauma-related outcomes of sexual assault by examining three levels of stigma-cultural, social, and self. Results showed self-stigma was significantly and positively related to trauma symptom severity. Thus, results revealed that the internalized aspect of stigma served as a mechanism in the relation between sexual assault severity and increased levels of trauma symptom severity, highlighting the importance of assessing self-stigma in women reporting sexual assault experiences.
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA willias1@etsu.edu.
Mandi F
MF
Deitz
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
Stacey L
SL
Williams
Kent State University, OH, USA.
Sean C
SC
Rife
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.
Peggy
P
Cantrell
D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D057545:Social Stigma; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000068099:Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*
sexual assault; stigma; trauma