Resilience among survivors of campus sexual assault: a scoping review

Background & Objective: At least one in five women experience sexual assault on campus, which is often associated with negative impacts on their wellbeing and education. This scoping review synthesizes strengths associated with resilience among women who have experienced campus sexual assault, using the resilience portfolio model (RPM) as a conceptual framework. Methods: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, Education Source, Open Dissertations, and Teacher Reference Center for empirical articles on resilience among campus sexual assault survivors. This led to a pool of 211 articles, of which 14 met inclusion criteria. Results: Strengths associated with better outcomes for survivors included hope and involvement in advocacy. Some studies highlighted the importance of confidentiality among support staff, campus response teams, and other resources. Conclusions: Safe spaces on campus-including ones that don't trigger mandatory reporting-are important for sexual assault survivors. Working with survivors to explore options for advocacy and social justice work may promote healing. Implementation of successful campus policies and resources can provide survivors accessible outlets for healing.