Research shows that PTSD and problem drinking are common sequelae experienced by women victims of adult sexual assault, yet the role of social support in understanding these outcomes is still unclear. The proposed project builds on the PI's prior research by testing a theoretical model of relations between social support received by sexual assault victims and their post-assault adjustment, including PTSD, problem drinking, and positive adaptation, which is a novel aspect of this project. Approximately 1,832 women who (a) experienced either attempted or completed rape and (b) disclosed their experience to at least 1 informal support provider will be recruited from the local community, universities, and victim service agencies to complete a series of 4 mail surveys, distributed at 6-month intervals over the course of 2 years. We propose to investigate how women's experiences of general and assault-specific social support relate to their coping and behavioral responses and post-assault adjustment over time. Second, we propose to examine the prospective influence of women's experiences of social support on risk for sexual and nonsexual revictimization, and whether such effects are mediated by women's coping and behavioral responses and post-assault adjustment. We will also examine how revictimization influences women's subsequent coping and behavioral responses and post-assault adjustment. Further, for the first time, we will compare these processes in victims of alcohol-related and non-alcohol-related sexual assaults. Finally, qualitative data gleaned from interviews with victims and an informal support provider will yield a new understanding of how social support influences victims'post-assault adjustment and whether there are differences as a function of whether the victim is a problem drinker and whether alcohol was involved in the assault.

Public Health Relevance

Sexual assault is a serious public health issue that affects approximately 25% of American women (Bachar &Koss, 2001;Russell &Bolen, 2000;Tjaden &Thoennes, 1998). This crime can result in both physical injuries and psychological symptoms, including PTSD and alcohol abuse problems (Foa &Riggs, 1993;Resick, 1993). The proposed longitudinal study will examine how victims'experiences of general and assault-specific social support relate to their coping and behavioral responses, post-assault adjustment, and risk for revictimization, as well as whether relations between these factors differ depending on whether the victim was drinking prior to being assaulted. Results of this study could be used to inform the development of specialized interventions to improve sexual assault victims'recovery, tailored specifically to victims of alcohol-related and non-alcohol- related sexual assaults, as well as prevention programs designed to reduce the incidence of revictimization.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA017429-05
Application #
8643168
Study Section
Community Influences on Health Behavior (CIHB)
Program Officer
Freeman, Robert
Project Start
2010-04-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$304,312
Indirect Cost
$102,570
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
O'Callaghan, Erin; Lorenz, Katherine; Ullman, Sarah E et al. (2018) A Dyadic Study of Impacts of Sexual Assault Disclosure on Survivors' Informal Support Relationships. J Interpers Violence :886260518795506
Kirkner, Anne; Relyea, Mark; Ullman, Sarah E (2018) PTSD and Problem Drinking in Relation to Seeking Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Among Sexual Assault Survivors. Traumatology (Tallahass Fla) 24:1-7
Ullman, Sarah E; Lorenz, Katherine; Kirkner, Anne et al. (2018) Postassault Substance Use and Coping: A Qualitative Study of Sexual Assault Survivors and Informal Support Providers. Alcohol Treat Q 36:330-353
O'Callaghan, Erin; Shepp, Veronica; Ullman, Sarah E et al. (2018) Navigating Sex and Sexuality After Sexual Assault: A Qualitative Study of Survivors and Informal Support Providers. J Sex Res :1-13
Lorenz, Katherine; Ullman, Sarah E; Kirkner, Anne et al. (2018) Social Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosure: A Qualitative Study of Informal Support Dyads. Violence Against Women 24:1497-1520
Kirkner, Anne; Lorenz, Katherine; Ullman, Sarah E et al. (2018) A Qualitative Study of Sexual Assault Disclosure Impact and Help-Seeking on Support Providers. Violence Vict 33:721-738
Kirkner, Anne; Lorenz, Katherine; Ullman, Sarah E (2017) Recommendations for Responding to Survivors of Sexual Assault: A Qualitative Study of Survivors and Support Providers. J Interpers Violence :886260517739285
Ullman, Sarah E; Lorenz, Katherine; Kirkner, Anne (2017) Alcohol's Role in Social Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosures: A Qualitative Study of Informal Support Dyads. J Interpers Violence :886260517721172
Relyea, Mark; Ullman, Sarah E (2017) Predicting Sexual Assault Revictimization in a Longitudinal Sample of Women Survivors: Variation by Type of Assault. Violence Against Women 23:1462-1483
Ullman, Sarah E; Relyea, Mark (2016) Social Support, Coping, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Female Sexual Assault Survivors: A Longitudinal Analysis. J Trauma Stress 29:500-506

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