TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual violence and Australian women
T2 - A longitudinal analysis of psychosocial and behavioral outcomes
AU - Brunton, Robyn
AU - Dryer, Rachel
N1 - Funding Information:
The research on which this paper is based was conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health by the University of Queensland and the University of Newcastle. We are grateful to the Australian Government Department of Health for funding and to the women who provided the survey data.
Funding Information:
The research on which this paper is based was conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health by the University of Queensland and the University of Newcastle. We are grateful to the Australian Government Department of Health for funding and to the women who provided the survey data.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - Rationale: Sexual violence (SV) is associated with adverse psychosocial and behavioural outcomes with revictimization likely. However, there are significant gaps in the current literature in regard to (a) whether over time women's levels of distress/behaviour change, and (b) whether social support mediates the relationship between SV and adverse outcomes. Methods and results: This study aimed to address these two issues by analysing data from the Australian Longitudinal Women's Health Survey, surveys 4 (2006) to 8 (2018). Using repeated-measures data analytic procedures we found that women who had suffered SV, in comparison to women with no SV history, had greater anxiety, depression, stress, a lower mental health-related quality of life and less life satisfaction. Moreover, their level of distress remained higher at all time points, in comparison to the other group. Women with a SV history were also more likely to suffer re-victimization, consume more cigarettes and illicit drugs than other women. Moreover, SV predicted all psychosocial outcomes (except life satisfaction) 12 years later, with social support mediating these relationships. SV predicted drug status; however social support did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions: These findings suggest that for women who have experienced SV their distress levels remain elevated. The findings also provide additional insights into the long-term impact of SV in Australian women with social support being identified as a resource that may assist in reducing some of the negative psychological outcomes associated with SV.
AB - Rationale: Sexual violence (SV) is associated with adverse psychosocial and behavioural outcomes with revictimization likely. However, there are significant gaps in the current literature in regard to (a) whether over time women's levels of distress/behaviour change, and (b) whether social support mediates the relationship between SV and adverse outcomes. Methods and results: This study aimed to address these two issues by analysing data from the Australian Longitudinal Women's Health Survey, surveys 4 (2006) to 8 (2018). Using repeated-measures data analytic procedures we found that women who had suffered SV, in comparison to women with no SV history, had greater anxiety, depression, stress, a lower mental health-related quality of life and less life satisfaction. Moreover, their level of distress remained higher at all time points, in comparison to the other group. Women with a SV history were also more likely to suffer re-victimization, consume more cigarettes and illicit drugs than other women. Moreover, SV predicted all psychosocial outcomes (except life satisfaction) 12 years later, with social support mediating these relationships. SV predicted drug status; however social support did not mediate this relationship. Conclusions: These findings suggest that for women who have experienced SV their distress levels remain elevated. The findings also provide additional insights into the long-term impact of SV in Australian women with social support being identified as a resource that may assist in reducing some of the negative psychological outcomes associated with SV.
KW - sexual assault
KW - sexual violence
KW - rape
KW - child abuse
KW - intimate partner violence
KW - mental health
KW - substance abuse
KW - Rape
KW - Mental health
KW - Substance abuse
KW - Sexual assault
KW - Child abuse
KW - Sexual violence
KW - Intimate partner violence
KW - Sex Offenses/psychology
KW - Humans
KW - Australia/epidemiology
KW - Crime Victims
KW - Quality of Life
KW - Female
KW - Racial Groups
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U2 - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114334
DO - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114334
M3 - Article
C2 - 34600769
VL - 292
JO - Social Science and Medicine. Part F Medical and Social Ethics
JF - Social Science and Medicine. Part F Medical and Social Ethics
SN - 0277-9536
M1 - 114334
ER -