Navigating Sex and Sexuality After Sexual Assault: A Qualitative Study of Survivors and Informal Support Providers

O’Callaghan, Erin; Shepp, Veronica; Ullman, Sarah E.; Kirkner, Anne

doi:10.1080/00224499.2018.1506731

Cited by 30 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Our study shows how experiencing multiple types of unwanted sexual experiences can impact the effect of disclosure on relationships. Often survivor behavior is related not only to isolated assaults but also to risky relationships, intimate partner violence, and earlier child abuse histories (O'Callaghan et al, 2019). Risky relationships and intimate partner violence serve to make SPs more concerned about how the survivor navigates future/new relationships, both platonic and romantic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ullman, Lorenz, and Kirkner (2020) specifically examined alcohol-specific social reactions in a subsample of matched pairs with survivors who experienced an alcohol-involved assault. Finally, O’Callaghan, Shepp, Ullman, and Kirkner (2019) explored changes in sexuality and sexual behavior post-assault from the dyadic perspective. Together, these studies illustrate the need for continued research using qualitative dyadic data to understand the complexity of sexual assault, social support, and post-assault adjustment beyond the survivor-only perspective.…”

Section: Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Dyadic Study of Impacts of Sexual Assault Disclosure on Survivors’ Informal Support Relationships

O’Callaghan

Lorenz

Ullman

et al. 2018

J Interpers Violence

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After a sexual assault, victims often disclose their assault to an informal support provider (SP) to receive social support. Ample research exists on social reactions of informal SPs to disclosure and how those reactions affect the victim both positively and negatively, but little research exists on how the disclosure impacts a survivor's support relationships both in the short and in the long term. This qualitative interview study examined 45 ethnically diverse informal support dyads where women disclosed sexual assault to an informal SP (e.g., friend, family, significant other). Assault disclosure was examined to determine its impact on relationship quality of survivors and their SPs. Results revealed positive and negative effects on survivor-SP relationships of assault disclosure and social reactions. In almost all matched pairs (91%), the survivor, SP, or both remarked on how the relationship had changed following disclosure. Family member SPs spoke of survivors' risk-taking and poor relationship choices. Significant others spoke of the toll of supporting survivors who sometimes left their needs unmet and strained their relationships with survivors. Friend SPs often appraised how the survivor engaged in other types of relationships, but overall felt that their relationships had become stronger or closer as a result of the disclosure. Implications of this study include acknowledging that informal supporters, particularly significant others, can experience adverse effects after disclosure, and that help is needed not only for survivors but also for their informal support sources. Future research should continue to investigate both the short-term and longitudinal impacts of sexual assault disclosure on survivors' informal support relationships.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Dyadic Study of Impacts of Sexual Assault Disclosure on Survivors’ Informal Support Relationships

O’Callaghan

Lorenz

Ullman

et al. 2018

J Interpers Violence

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show abstract

“…An additional impact of SA which was also noted in the literature, is an individual's relationship to sex post assault. The literature states that a variety of sexual issues arise for SA survivors such as, "sexual dysfunction" & lower "sexual satisfaction" (O'Callaghan, Shepp, Ullman & Kirkner, 2018). The most common sexual issues identified were fear of sexual experiences, arousal and desire dysfunction (O'Callaghan et al, 2018).…”

Section: Theme 1: Impacts Of Sexual Assaultmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The literature states that a variety of sexual issues arise for SA survivors such as, "sexual dysfunction" & lower "sexual satisfaction" (O'Callaghan, Shepp, Ullman & Kirkner, 2018). The most common sexual issues identified were fear of sexual experiences, arousal and desire dysfunction (O'Callaghan et al, 2018). Not only has the literature highlighted physical and emotional affects but it has outlined the damage SA can have on an individual's relationship to sex post-assault.…”

Section: Theme 1: Impacts Of Sexual Assaultmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survivor's Silenced Narratives

Catani¹

2021

Preprint

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The re-victimization experienced by sexual assault (SA) survivors who engage with the mental health system post-assault is often wrapped in silence. They are stories that we never hear. Working from anti-colonial, anti-psychiatry and mad studies lenses, this master’s research paper centres three narratives from SA survivors who have experienced the “second victimization” (Sabina & Ho, 2014) from the mental health system. The SA survivors are all living in Ontario, Canada and their stories highlight a deep-rooted flawed system built on colonial practices which have been curated to abuse power relations. This research exposes the silenced trauma and abuse endured at the hands of medical ‘professionals’ as well as a lack of understanding and empathy for the SA community.

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“…This could be indicative of individuals feeling more open to share their traumatic experiences with people who have had similar experiences. However, this can also put individuals with a history of sexual assault who receive such disclosures from friends at risk of being retraumatized (experiencing upsetting reminders of previous traumatic events) (O'Callaghan et al 2019). Similarly, prior history of sexual victimization also influences the attitudes of individuals towards rape victims and their tendency to accept rape myths (Littleton et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Victim blaming, prior history to sexual victimization, support for sexually assaulted friends, and rape myths acceptance as predictors of attitudes towards rape victims in the general population of Pakistan

Kazmi¹,

Tarar

Nasir

et al. 2023

Egypt J Forensic Sci

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Background Individuals who have been sexually assaulted often turn to their friends for comfort and support. Responses to such disclosures vary greatly and may be influenced by prior victimization, the relationship of the disclosure recipient to the accused, and the recipient’s acceptance of rape myths. Moreover, currently there are no studies to date that have validated the Illinois Rape Myths Acceptance Model in Pakistan. Method To gain a better understanding of this phenomenon, the online survey was administered to the general population. Of this sample, 512 (consisting of 312 females and 200 males) reported having received a rape disclosure from a friend. Results The results showed that having lower scores on rape myths acceptance (being less likely to endorse rape myths) was significantly associated with positive attitudes towards rape victims. Similarly, being female, having graduate or above level education, not blaming the victim, having prior history of sexual victimization, offering support for friends experiencing sexual assault, and being liberal were significantly associated with positive attitudes towards rape victims. Additionally, confirmatory factor analysis of the Illinois Rape Myths Acceptance Scale showed acceptable model fit indices and relevance to the Pakistani context. Conclusion In conclusion, it has been assessed through the results that showed that having lower scores on rape myths acceptance (being less likely to endorse rape myths) was significantly associated with positive attitudes towards rape victims. Similarly, being female, having graduate or above level education, not blaming the victim, having prior history of sexual victimization, offering support for friends experiencing sexual assault, and being liberal were significantly associated with positive attitudes towards rape victims. It is further concluded that having experienced sexual victimization leads individuals towards showing empathy to rape victims and thus may influence them to provide support for such victims. The findings further show that Illinois Rape Myths Acceptance is a valid measure for measurement of rape myths in Pakistan as established through the acceptable model fit indices. With the use of validated scales, we could gain a better understanding of rape and the factors related to it, which could be used to inform practices and policy decisions.

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Navigating Sex and Sexuality After Sexual Assault: A Qualitative Study of Survivors and Informal Support Providers

Cited by 30 publications

References 38 publications

A Dyadic Study of Impacts of Sexual Assault Disclosure on Survivors’ Informal Support Relationships

A Dyadic Study of Impacts of Sexual Assault Disclosure on Survivors’ Informal Support Relationships

Survivor's Silenced Narratives

Victim blaming, prior history to sexual victimization, support for sexually assaulted friends, and rape myths acceptance as predictors of attitudes towards rape victims in the general population of Pakistan

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