Posttraumatic stress disorder among female victims of sexual assault in China: prevalence and psychosocial factors

• Published in: Asia-Pacific psychiatry Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 405 - 413
• Main Authors: Sui, Shuang Ge, King, Mark E., Li, Ling Sophia, Chen, Liu Yue, Zhang, Yan, Li, Ling Jiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; China; Crime Victims - psychology; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; Female; Females; Humans; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; psychosocial factor; PTSD; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses - psychology; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; sexual assault; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; China; PTSD; prevalence; psychosocial factor; sexual assault; China
• ISSN: 1758-5864; 1758-5872
• DOI: 10.1111/appy.12155

Introduction 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). Discussion 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.