To Tell or Not to Tell

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Underreporting of rape is a significant issue.
• Limited research exists on women who do not disclose sexual assault to anyone.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics and experiences of women who do not disclose rape.
• To compare non-disclosing women with those who have disclosed sexual assault.

Main Methods:

• An online study surveyed 242 women about their experiences with sexual assault and disclosure.
• Data collected included disclosure patterns, self-blame, and mental health treatment seeking.

Main Results:

• 24% of women did not disclose the rape.
• Non-disclosing women were significantly less likely to seek treatment for emotional injuries.
• Nearly two-thirds of non-disclosing women blamed themselves for the abuse, compared to 39.1% of disclosing women.
• No significant differences in depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found between groups.
• Most respondents favored online counseling over other methods.

Conclusions:

• Women who do not disclose rape face unique challenges, including reduced help-seeking and increased self-blame.
• Despite disclosure differences, mental health outcomes like depression, anxiety, and PTSD were similar.
• Online counseling is a preferred modality for survivors, regardless of disclosure status.