Posttraumatic stress and sexual functioning difficulties in college women with a history of sexual assault victimization.

Abstract

Objective: College women are at risk for exposure to sexual victimization, which is a risk factor for posttraumatic stress (PTS) and sexual dysfunction. Contemporary models of female sexual functioning identify the role of distal (e.g., sexual abuse) and proximal (e.g., psychological) variables in contributing to female sexual response. This study examined whether and how PTS symptom clusters are related to specific domains of sexual functioning in a sample of sexually active college women who reported a history of sexual victimization. Method: A nonclinical sample of 108 women, recruited from a midsized university, completed online questionnaires assessing sexual victimization history, PTS symptom clusters (i.e., intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal), and difficulties with sexual functioning (i.e., desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain, and distress). Results: Regression analyses indicated that greater intrusive symptoms were associated with more difficulties with orgasm and higher sexual distress. Conclusion:Results confirm the importance of intrusive PTS symptoms in understanding subjective distress and orgasm difficulties in sexual assault survivors. Possible implications of these findings include the integration of trauma-focused therapy with treatment of sexual dysfunction among women with a history of sexual assault. Future research should examine prospective relationships between sexual assault exposure, PTS response, and female sexual dysfunction.

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).…”

Posttraumatic Growth in Trauma Survivors: Associations With Attachment to God and God Representation

“…).” The IES‐R further asks participants to identify a particular traumatic event, and the date in which it occurred, as a way to encourage participants to consider the items in relation to a specific event. Items on the scale have shown strong reliability (α = .96) when used with similar samples (E. L. Kelley & Gidycz, ). The sample used for the current study had a Cronbach's alpha of .96, suggesting items on this scale had strong internal consistency.…”

Sexual Functioning and Satisfaction Among College Survivors of Sexual Violence: Examining PTSD Symptoms and Sexual Schemas

“…As many as 58% of female sexual violence survivors report impairment in one or more of these domains (Becker et al, 1986; Laumann et al,1999; Nappi et al, 2016). Studies note that relative to women who have not experienced sexual violence, survivors of sexual violence report reduced sexual desire, increased problems with arousal or achieving orgasm, and decreased sexual satisfaction (e.g., Kelley & Gidycz, 2019; Leonard & Follette, 2002; Polusny & Follette, 1995; Rellini & Meston, 2011; Turchik & Hassija, 2014). Research with female veterans has documented that relative to nonsexual trauma, sexual trauma history (including military sexual trauma) showed a stronger association with reduced sexual satisfaction (e.g., DiMauro et al, 2018) and an increased likelihood to meet diagnostic criteria for a sexual dysfunction (Turchik et al, 2012).…”