Correlates of Posttraumatic Growth in Adult Sexual Assault Victims

This exploratory study examined how demographics, child sexual abuse (CSA), assault-related factors, and post-assault responses predict posttraumatic growth in a diverse sample (N = 1863) of female adult sexual assault victims. Multiple regression analysis showed that demographics (older age, ethnic minority race, less education) were all significantly related to greater posttraumatic growth, while CSA was unrelated to posttraumatic growth. Assault characteristics were weaker predictors of posttraumatic growth; whereas women's perception of life threat during the assault was related to greater posttraumatic growth. Post-assault factors including: greater levels of maladaptive coping, characterological self-blame, negative social reactions from others, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were all related to less posttraumatic growth. Conversely, positive social reactions from others, perceived control over recovery, adaptive individual coping, and disrupted core beliefs were all related to greater posttraumatic growth. Clinicians should facilitate these modifiable social psychological factors when treating survivors.