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Mental Health Symptoms and Substance Use After Recent Sexual Assault Based on Sexual Orientation
Selime R Salim1, Emily L Tilstra-Ferrell2, Katherine Mai2
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA salim22s@mtholyoke.edu salims@stanford.edu.
None:
The current study examined differences in acute stress and depression symptoms, alcohol use, and drug use between sexual minority and heterosexual survivors in the weeks following a sexual assault. The sample included 26 sexual minority and 66 heterosexual survivors (N = 92, 94.4% cisgender women, 51.1% White, and 31.5% Black) who completed screening during a follow-up mental health service after receiving a sexual assault medical forensic examination. Group differences on brief mental health and substance use screening measures were examined using χ2 tests and t tests. Sexual minority survivors reported higher acute stress symptoms and were more likely to report drug use in the past 2 weeks, but no differences in depression symptoms and alcohol use were found. Results highlight the need for increased research on sexual minority survivors' unique experiences and needs following recent sexual assault.
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