Depressive symptoms after a sexual assault among women: understanding victim-perpetrator relationships and the role of social perceptions

被引:0
|
作者
Abrahams, N. [1 ]
Jewkes, R. [2 ]
Mathews, S. [1 ]
机构
[1] MRC, Gender & Hlth Res Unit, ZA-7405 Cape Town, South Africa
[2] MRC, Gender & Hlth Res Unit, Pretoria, South Africa
基金
英国医学研究理事会;
关键词
Sexual assault; Depression; Rape; Victim-perpetrator relationship; RAPE; VIOLENCE; BLAME; ATTRIBUTIONS; SEVERITY; BARRIERS; PARTNER; CAPE;
D O I
10.4314/ajpsy.v16i4.39
中图分类号
R749 [精神病学];
学科分类号
100205 ;
摘要
Objective: Although mental health impact of gender based violence has been documented for many decades, the impact of the socio-cultural dimensions and type of perpetrator on mental health outcomes has not been described outside of developed countries. We explore depression symptomatology four to six weeks post-rape in South Africa and examine whether this differs according to the circumstances of the rape. Method: 140 participants recruited from public hospital services in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces were interviewed within two weeks after completing the post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic and sexual assault characteristics including perpetrator. Depressive symptomatology was measured using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Results: 84.3% (95% CI: 78.1-90.3) women were found to have high levels of depressive symptoms, but lower levels were found among women raped in circumstances in which there was a lesser likelihood of blame such as those raped by strangers rather than intimate partners (Odds Ratio: (OR) 0.28 (95% Confidence Intervals (CD: 0.11-0.69) and higher levels were associated with experiencing four or more side effects related to PEP medication (OR: 3.79: CI: 1.03-13.94). Receiving support and severe sexual assaults (involving weapons and multiple perpetrators) were not associated with depression. Conclusion: The study does not support the general assumption that more violent rape causes more psychological harm. These results have important implications for individual treatment because it is more generally assumed that multiple perpetrator rapes, stranger rapes and those with weapons would result in more psychological trauma and thus more enduring symptoms. Our findings point to the importance of understanding the socio-cultural dimensions, including dynamics of blame and stigma, of rape on mental health sequelae.
引用
收藏
页码:288 / 293
页数:6
相关论文
共 25 条
  • [1] Correlates of Victim-Perpetrator Overlap in Sexual Aggression Among Men and Women: A Conceptual Replication and Extension
    Krahe, Barbara
    Berger, Anja
    [J]. PSYCHOLOGY OF VIOLENCE, 2020, 10 (05) : 564 - 574
  • [2] Multiple perpetrator sexual assault: correlates of PTSD and depressive symptoms in a sample of adult women
    Harris, Casey
    Ullman, Sarah E.
    Shepp, Veronica
    O'Callaghan, Erin
    [J]. JOURNAL OF SEXUAL AGGRESSION, 2021, 27 (03) : 387 - 400
  • [3] College Students' Social Reactions to the Victim in a Hypothetical Sexual Assault Scenario: The Role of Victim and Perpetrator Alcohol Use
    Untied, Amy S.
    Orchowski, Lindsay M.
    Mastroleo, Nadine
    Gidycz, Christine A.
    [J]. VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS, 2012, 27 (06) : 957 - 972
  • [4] Predicting PTSD and Depression following Sexual Assault: The Role of Perceived Life Threat, Post-Traumatic Cognitions, Victim-Perpetrator Relationship, and Social Support
    Domino, Jessica L.
    Whiteman, Sarah E.
    Weathers, Frank W.
    Blevins, Christy T.
    Davis, Margaret T.
    [J]. JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION MALTREATMENT & TRAUMA, 2020, 29 (06) : 680 - 698
  • [5] Sexual assault characteristics and posttraumatic stress symptoms among collegiate women: The role of posttraumatic cognitions
    Newins, Amie R.
    Wilson, Laura C.
    [J]. JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, 2023, 36 (05) : 993 - 1000
  • [6] Sexual Orientation Concealment, Hope, and Depressive Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Women: The Moderating Role of Sexual Orientation
    Glynn, Sophie Anne
    Mclaren, Suzanne
    Goldie, Peter D.
    [J]. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY, 2024, 71 (11) : 2594 - 2616
  • [7] Risk perceptions of dating violence among college women: The role of experience and depressive symptoms
    Helweg-Larsen, Marie
    Harding, Hilary G.
    Kleinman, Kimberly E.
    [J]. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, 2008, 27 (06) : 600 - 620
  • [8] Prevalence of depressive and alcohol abuse symptoms among women VA outpatients who report experiencing sexual assault while in the military
    Hankin, CS
    Skinner, KM
    Sullivan, LM
    Miller, DR
    Frayne, S
    Tripp, TJ
    [J]. JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, 1999, 12 (04) : 601 - 612
  • [9] The Role of Social Support in Health Status and Depressive Symptoms After Acute Myocardial Infarction Evidence for a Stronger Relationship Among Women
    Leifheit-Limson, Erica C.
    Reid, Kimberly J.
    Kasl, Stanislav V.
    Lin, Haiqun
    Jones, Philip G.
    Buchanan, Donna M.
    Parashar, Susmita
    Peterson, Pamela N.
    Spertus, John A.
    Lichtman, Judith H.
    [J]. CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR QUALITY AND OUTCOMES, 2010, 3 (02): : 143 - 150
  • [10] Life events and depressive symptoms among pregnant women in India: Moderating role of resilience and social support
    Kishore, M. Thomas
    Satyanarayana, Veena
    Ananthanpillai, Supraja Thirumalai
    Desai, Geetha
    Bhaskarapillai, Binukumar
    Thippeswamy, Harish
    Chandra, Prabha S.
    [J]. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY, 2018, 64 (06) : 570 - 577