Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Longitudinal effects of sexual assault victims' drinking and self-blame on posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors:	Ullman, Sarah E Peter-Hagene, Liana C
Keywords:	Rape;Alcohol abuse;Sexual assault;Behaviour;Victims / survivors;Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Year:	2016
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	[ahead-of-print]
Notes:	Alcohol plays a major role in sexual assaults, but few studies have examined its impact on recovery outcomes, particularly in longitudinal studies. In this longitudinal study of adult sexual assault survivors, the effects of victim drinking on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were investigated, as well as the mediating role of characterological and behavioral self-blame attributions.Victims who were drinking before their assault experienced less PTSD, but more self-blame than those who were not. Characterological, but not behavioral self-blame was related to increased PTSD symptoms. Thus, although drinking was overall related to less PTSD, it was also associated with increased PTSD via self-blame attributions, highlighting the danger of blaming victims of alcohol-related rapes for their assaults. Implications for future research and clinical work with survivors of alcohol-related sexual assaults are drawn.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/15669
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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