Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosure: Differential Effects on Posttraumatic Cognitions by Race/Ethnicity

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Abstract
Survivors of sexual assault often disclose their experiences to close support members to seek emotional and practical support. Research consistently demonstrates that post-assault outcomes are shaped by the responses survivors receive following disclosure. Negative responses, in particular, are associated with worsened posttrauma outcomes; however, limited research has examined disclosure experiences among non-White/Latine women. The present study aimed to address this gap by examining associations between specific disclosure response types ( Positive , Turning Against , Unsupportive Acknowledgment ) and negative posttraumatic cognitions among 201 women survivors of sexual assault. Descriptive analyses indicated that racial/ethnic minority participants reported higher rates of both positive and unsupportive acknowledgment responses compared to White/non-Latine women. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that turning against responses were the most consistently associated with stronger negative cognitions about the self, the world, and self-blame. Moderation analyses revealed that turning against responses had stronger negative effects on self-related cognitions among racial/ethnic minority survivors. In contrast, positive responses were associated with reduced negative world-related cognitions only among White/non-Latine participants. These findings highlight important racial/ethnic differences in disclosure experiences and recovery processes. Moreover, they emphasize the need for increased empirical attention to developing culturally responsive models of social support.
Funding Information
  • National Institutes of Health (K01AA026643)
  • National Institutes of Health (R01HS029673)

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