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Women's reactions to interpersonal violence research: a longitudinal study
Katie M Edwards1, Danielle R Probst, Erin C Tansill
1University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. Katie.Edwards@unh.edu
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|September 1, 2012
Summary
Most college women reported no distress after completing interpersonal violence surveys. However, immediate negative reactions to research participation predicted later distress, highlighting the need for careful study design.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Research on interpersonal violence often involves sensitive self-report measures.
- Understanding participants' emotional responses to such measures is crucial for ethical research conduct.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess immediate and long-term emotional reactions of college women to completing interpersonal violence surveys.
- To identify predictors of negative emotional reactions and study attrition.
Main Methods:
- College women completed self-report surveys on interpersonal violence at the beginning and end of a 2-month academic quarter.
- Emotional reactions, psychological distress, and victimization variables were measured.
- Attrition and long-term distress were assessed at follow-up.
Main Results:
- 7.7% of participants experienced immediate negative emotional reactions to research participation.
- Immediate negative reactions were associated with prior victimization and psychological distress.
- Immediate negative reactions and anticipation of distress predicted long-term negative emotional reactions, not attrition.
Conclusions:
- While most women tolerated survey participation well, a subset experienced immediate distress.
- Immediate negative emotional reactions and anticipated distress are key predictors of subsequent distress.
- These findings inform ethical considerations in research involving sensitive topics.
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