We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SECONDARY VICTIMIZATION OF FEMALE VETERANS: HELP-SEEKING EXPERIENCES WITH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN SOCIAL SYSTEMS.
- Authors
Campbell, Rebecca; Raja, Sheela
- Abstract
A sample of predominantly low-income, African American female veterans and reservists seeking health care in a Veterans' Administration medical clinic was screened for a history of sexual assault since age 18. Overall, 39% had been sexually assaulted in adulthood. Those who had been sexually victimized were asked to describe one assault incident in detail: 38% described an assault that occurred during military service and 62% described one that occurred before or after military service. This study also examined victims' postassault help-seeking experiences and the degree to which they encountered“secondary victimization” (i.e., victim-blaming behaviors and practices engaged in by legal and medical personnel, which exacerbates victims' trauma). Most victims who sought help from the legal or medical systems (military or civilian) reported that this contact made them feel guilty, depressed, anxious, distrustful of others, and reluctant to seek further help. Secondary victimization was significantly positively correlated with posttraumatic stress symptomatology.
- Subjects
WOMEN veterans; AFRICAN American women; RAPE; FEMALE rape victims; POST-traumatic stress disorder; RAPE victims -- Services for; CRIMES against African Americans; CRIMES against women
- Publication
Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2005, Vol 29, Issue 1, p97
- ISSN
0361-6843
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1471-6402.2005.00171.x