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Posttraumatic stress disorder among female victims of sexual assault in C hina: prevalence and psychosocial factors
Author(s) -
Sui Shuang Ge,
King Mark E.,
Li Ling Sophia,
Chen Liu Yue,
Zhang Yan,
Li Ling Jiang
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12155
Subject(s) - psychosocial , clinical psychology , neuroticism , coping (psychology) , social support , psychiatry , eysenck personality questionnaire , medicine , psychology , personality , big five personality traits , extraversion and introversion , social psychology , psychotherapist
Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic stressors one may experience in life. Although studies have investigated the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) and associated psychosocial factors on victims of sexual assault internationally, such studies in M ainland C hina are limited. Methods Two hundred thirt‐three C hinese females (aged 17–38) victims of sexual assault were surveyed in three G uangdong province cities ( G uangzhou city, S henzhen city, and H uizhou city). The C linician‐ A dministered PTSD S cale, E ysenck P ersonality Q uestionnaire, PTSD C hecklist C ivilian V ersion, S ocial S upport R ating S cale, and T rait C oping S tyle Q uestionnaire were used. Results The prevalence of PTSD in C hinese female victims of sexual assault was 15.25% (34/223). Six psychosocial factors were found to be significant for PTSD symptomatology, including objective support (β = −1.01, P = 0.001), subjective support (β = −0.59, P < 0.001), support utilization (β = −1.03, P = 0.005), negative coping style (β = 0.58, P < 0.001), positive coping style (β = −0.44, P < 0.001), and neuroticism (β = 0.48, P < 0.001). Discussion These findings suggest that negative coping bias and neuroticism were predisposing risk factors that increase PTSD symptoms, while objective support, subjective support, support utilization, and positive coping style were protective factors for PTSD following sexual assault, and provide prima facie evidence for posttrauma intervention.