Sexual assault is a wide public health problem given the number of people who are
sexually assaulted. Sexual assault affects the psychological well being of people who
experience it.The most common reported psychological problems are PTSD and
depressive symptoms especially after four to six weeks post sexual assault.These Co
morbid disorders affect the normal functioning of an individual such home chores, work
and increase mortality rate among sexual assaulted survivors. It was also documented
that coping strategies (maladaptive or adaptive) employed by sexual assaulted
survivors are the one that determine their recovery.Hence, there was a need to
investigate the correlation between coping strategies, the level of PTSD and the level of
depression in Ngaka Modiri Molema in the North West Province of South Africa.
The study aimed to investigate correlation between coping strategies and the levels of
PTSD and depression among sexual assaulted survivors. Correlational cross-sectional
design was used in this study.Sample size of 115 of sexually assaulted participants
between the age of 18 and 50 was determined through the use of Raosoft calculator.
PCL for PTSD, BDI and brief COPE instruments were used to collect data. Information
about socio demographic was also obtained.Data analysis was done through frequency
distribution to describe the demographic data, levels of PTSD and depression.Data
were also analysed through Pearson correlations to determine the possible relationship
between coping, PTSD and depressive symptoms. ANOVA, chi-square, cross tabulation
were also done to determine the possible relationship between demographic data, level
of PTSD and depression.
Results showed high level of PTSD and low level of depression among sexual
assaulted survivors.They have also showed that there is no relationship between coping
strategies and PTSD, and that there was a relationship between coping and depressive
symptoms.These findings indicate that coping strategies cannot be regarded as one the
factors that can control the non-development and development of PTSD, but could be
regarded as one the factors that can account to development and non development of
depression. / Thesis (M Cur) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2013
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/14438 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Zulwayo, Nombulelo Veronica |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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