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Predictors of Using Mental Health Services After Sexual Assault
Author(s) -
Price Matthew,
Davidson Tatiana M.,
Ruggiero Kenneth J.,
Acierno Ron,
Resnick Heidi S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.21915
Subject(s) - mental health , psychiatry , medicine , psychopathology , poison control , medicaid , psychological intervention , suicide prevention , injury prevention , depression (economics) , occupational safety and health , public health , health care , clinical psychology , medical emergency , pathology , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth , nursing
Sexual assault increases the risk for psychopathology. Despite the availability of effective interventions, relatively few victims who need treatment receive care in the months following an assault. Prior work identified several factors associated with utilizing care, including ethnicity, insurance, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Few studies, however, have examined predictors of treatment utilization prospectively from the time of assault. The present study hypothesized that White racial status, younger age, being partnered, having health insurance, having previously received mental health treatment, and having more PTSD and depression symptoms would predict utilization of care in the 6 months postassault. This was examined in a sample of 266 female sexual assault victims with an average age of 26.2 years, of whom 62.0% were White and 38.0% were African American assessed at 1.5 and 6 months postassault. Available information on utilizing care varied across assessments (1.5 months, n = 214; 3 months, n = 126; 6 months, n = 204). Significant predictors included having previously received mental health treatment ( OR = 4.09), 1 day depressive symptoms ( OR = 1.06), and having private insurance ( OR = 2.24) or Medicaid ( OR = 2.19). Alcohol abuse and prior mental health care were associated with a substantial increase in treatment utilization ( OR = 4.07). The findings highlight the need to help victims at risk obtain treatment after sexual assault.