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Relationship Changes After Substance Sexual Assault Disclosure in Romantic Partners and Family Members
Teuta Peja1, Sarah E Ullman1, Casey Harris1
1University of Illinois Chicago.
The Journal of Sexual Aggression
|April 6, 2026
Summary
Sexual assault disclosures impact relationships. Survivors and their support persons experienced both positive and negative relationship changes after disclosure, affecting trust and safety.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Relationship Studies
Background:
- Sexual assault (SA) significantly impacts survivors' social relationships.
- Limited qualitative research exists on how SA disclosures affect romantic partners and family members.
Purpose of the Study:
- To qualitatively examine relationship changes experienced by romantic partners and family members following a survivor's disclosure of sexual assault.
- To understand the dyadic experiences of survivors and their informal support providers (SPs).
Main Methods:
- A dyadic qualitative interview study was conducted.
- Participants included 4 romantic partner pairs and 4 family pairs, consisting of a survivor and their informal support provider (SP).
Main Results:
- Romantic partners reported positive changes like relationship growth and improved communication, but also negative changes such as minimization of the assault and diminished autonomy.
- Family members reported positive changes including strengthened trust and protection, alongside negative changes like victim-blaming leading to relationship distancing.
- Both romantic partners and family members experienced varied relationship dynamics post-disclosure.
Conclusions:
- Disclosure of sexual assault to informal support providers can lead to both positive and negative relationship transformations.
- Understanding these dyadic changes is crucial for supporting survivors and their social networks.
- Future research should explore interventions to mitigate negative relationship impacts.
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