Research suggests that the experience of sexual victimization leads to higher levels of psychopathology. It has been noted, however, that resource loss following the victimization, as opposed to the act of victimization itself, is the driving factor in adaptation following the victimization. The current study attempted to address the impact of resource loss following sexual victimization on resilience, as defined by a lack of psychology. In addition, the current study sought to gain a better understanding of the roles of social support and self-efficacy in this relationship. It is hypothesized that higher levels of resource loss following victimization will lead to lower levels of resilience. In addition, it is hypothesized that social support and self-efficacy will moderate this relationship. Data was collected using a female, undergraduate sample at Virginia Tech. Results indicated that total resource loss and personal characteristic loss were found to positively predict depression, anxiety and total psychopathology. It was also found to negatively predict school performance, and satisfaction with friends. Neither type of loss significantly predicted alcohol use, change in G.P.A., number of hookups and PTSD. No significant moderation was found for either social or support or self-efficacy. Implications of these results will be discussed. / Ph. D.

Although about half of all rape victims are adolescents, the bulk of the research on sexual victimization is focused on college or community samples of adult women. As such, little is known about adolescent risk of sexual victimization. Adolescence is an important developmental phase in life, in which an individual undergoes major social and biological changes. These changes may make them more susceptible to environmental characteristics, such as family climate, compared to adults. Environmental factors may influence risk taking among adolescents, which may increase the risk of sexual victimization. The theory of social support can be useful in understanding why some young individuals are sexually victimized and others are not. Data for the analysis is derived from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The current study uses the in-home interviews from Wave I, Wave II, and Wave IV of Add Health. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between social support, risky behavior, and sexual victimization. Specifically, whether risky behavior mediates the relationship between adolescent sexual victimization and social support will be examined.

This thesis analyzed the effects of sexual victimization among college women. Previous research has found that victimization has several negative effects. This thesis was designed to add to this literature by addressing how sexual victimization effects both behavior and academic performance. Results indicated that there was a significant relationship between sexual victimization and behavior changes, the type of victimization experienced had a different impact on the victim based on the type of victimization they experienced, and that academic performance was significantly affected by sexual victimization.

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Sexual victimization has been associated with significant negative health outcomes as well as increased healthcare utilization (e.g., Breiding et al., 2013; Sickel et al., 2002). However, due to fear, embarrassment, or confidentiality concerns (Logan et al., 2004; Nasta et al., 2005), women may mistrust medical advice and not adhere to treatment recommendations, exacerbating development of negative health outcomes. Some research (Meade et al., 2009) has identified sexual victimization as a predictor of medical nonadherence, but to our knowledge no research has examined the role of medical mistrust in this relationship. A sample of 857 women was recruited via social media. Regression analyses in R Markdown revealed that sexual trauma was a significant predictor of both medical nonadherence (b = 0.4, SE = .08, p < .0001) and medical mistrust (b = 1.36, SE = .027 p < .0001), and further that medical mistrust predicted medical nonadherence (b = 0.06 SE = .01, p < .0001). Additionally, medical mistrust was found to significantly mediate the relationship between sexual trauma and medical nonadherence (b = .09, SD = .03, 95% CI =.04, .14). Results emphasize the importance of trauma-informed care and patient-provider rapport in bolstering resiliency and strengthening survivors’ adherence to medical recommendations. Suggestions for further application and intervention will be discussed.

Abstract available in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

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