Mental health consequences of sexual assault among first-year college women

Abstract

The occurrence of sexual assault early in college has adverse mental health consequences.

Sexual Violence and Mental Health Among College Students in the Era of #MeToo

“…Both the unadjusted and adjusted ORs describing the association between sexual violence and mental health outcomes, specifically anxiety, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, stress, and suicidal ideation, were statistically significant. The results were consistent with other findings that sexual violence has an adverse impact on mental health (Brewer et al 2018;Carey et al 2018;Chang et al 2015;Kelley and Gidycz 2019;Rimsza et al 1988;Stephens and Wilke 2016).…”

“…This effect is attributed to the stigma of sexual violence and subsequent self-blame (Herman 1992;Jordan et al 2014;Resick 1993). Research has examined sexual violence among college students, along with the psychiatric implications, ranging from depression to dietary disorders (Brewer et al 2018;Carey et al 2018;Chang et al 2015;Kelley and Gidycz 2019;Leone and Carroll 2016;Stephens and Wilke 2016). In the past decade, universities have experienced increased sexual violence reporting rates and Title IX complaints, potentially due to the Obama administration's more proactive stance on Title IX enforcement (Musu-Gillette et al 2017;Wilson 2014).…”

“…In addition, most existing analyses examine specific populations rather than focusing on undergraduate students as a whole. Many longitudinal and cross-sectional studies solely focused on cis-women, thereby excluding cis-men, trans-men, and gender-nonconforming individuals (Aosved and Long 2005;Arata and Burkhart 1996;Carey et al 2018;Kaltman et al 2005;Kelley and Gidycz 2019;Messman-Moore et al 2000;Orchowski and Gidycz 2015;Zinzow et al 2011). This could limit generalizability of results, given a recent survey that showed nearly half of all transgender individuals experience sexual assault (2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Report 2016).…”

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: Prevalence and Association with Distal and Proximal Factors in Spanish University Students

“…The mechanism of such association remains unclear, but multiple perspectives, from genetics to environmental influences such as imitation or socioeconomic family adversities, are likely (Brent & Melhem, ). In recent years, sexual assaults in college campuses are of growing interest (Carey, Norris, Durney, Shepardson, & Carey, ; Fedina, Holmes, & Backes, ; Halstead, Williams, & Gonzalez‐Guarda, ). Also, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders have been associated with SI (Brent et al., ) and these disorders are the most common focus of college suicide prevention strategies.…”

Organizational influences on the intimate partner violence and sexual violence screening practices of college health care providers

“…In a study with 873 female college students, 22% reported experiencing IPV or SV during the preceding semester (Sutherland, Fantasia, Hutchinson, & Katz, 2017). The adverse health outcomes of IPV and SV are numerous and well-documented and include: physical injuries and death, higher rates of gynecological health issues and unintended pregnancy, gastrointestinal and neurological issues, chronic pain, posttraumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues including anxiety and depression (Campbell, 2002;Carey, Norris, Durney, Shepardson, & Carey, 2018;Feltner et al, 2018;Moyer, 2013b;Potter, Howard, Murphy, & Moynihan, 2018). Potter et al (2018) found that more than 90% of college women who experienced SV reported health problems related to their assault; many also experienced academic challenges and disruptions in studies due to their SV experience and/or subsequent health problems.…”