Coping strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder in female victims of sexual and nonsexual assault

The coping behaviors and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of 215 female assault victims (103 rape victims and 112 nonsexual assault victims) were assessed within 2 weeks following the assault (Time 1), and 133 of them (62%) were followed up 3 months later (Time 2). Posttrauma symptom se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of abnormal psychology (1965) Vol. 105; no. 3; p. 455
Main Authors Valentiner, D P, Foa EBDS, Riggs, D S, Gershuny, B S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.1996
Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Fantasy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Middle Aged
Personality Assessment
Rape - psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Violence - psychology
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Summary:The coping behaviors and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of 215 female assault victims (103 rape victims and 112 nonsexual assault victims) were assessed within 2 weeks following the assault (Time 1), and 133 of them (62%) were followed up 3 months later (Time 2). Posttrauma symptom severity significantly decreased during the 3-month study period, but PTSD severity levels at Times 1 and 2 were highly correlated. Three coping scales were constructed on the basis of exploratory factor analyses: Mobilizing Support, Positive Distancing, and Wishful Thinking. Three months postassault, rape victims showed higher levels of wishful thinking and PTSD than nonsexual assault victims. Wishful thinking showed a positive association and positive distancing a negative association with PTSD severity, controlling for assault type, initial levels of PTSD severity, and other coping strategies. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.
ISSN:0021-843X
DOI:10.1037/0021-843X.105.3.455