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COPINGSTRATEGIES OFADULT

SEXUALASSAULTVICTIMS

Coping strategies of adult rape victims refers to the

ways in which rape victims respond to an assault. Most

of this research focuses on female victims because most

sexual assault victims are women. Although the term

copingimplies that someone is adjusting well, coping

strategies can actually be either helpful or unhelpful.

Less helpful strategies include avoiding dealing with

the assault, withdrawing from others, using drugs and

alcohol to self-medicate, blaming one’s self, and focus-

ing on the past and on why the assault occurred. Among

the more helpful strategies reported are seeing the

assault in a more positive light, relying on one’s reli-

gious beliefs, and focusing on what currently is control-

lable. Disclosing the assault can lead to either positive

or negative reactions from others. Positive reactions are

more common, although negative reactions have a

greater impact.

Knowledge about the strategies victims use to deal

with an assault is relevant to several kinds of profes-

sionals who work with victims. For example, knowl-

edge about which strategies have been helpful or

unhelpful is useful to those who provide direct ser-

vices to victims (e.g., psychologists, social workers,

advocates). This information also might be used by a

psychological expert in a sexual assault case to help

explain the effects of the rape on a victim to a judge

or jury. It is important, however, to keep in mind that

most rapes are not reported and, of those that are

reported, many are not charged and few go to trial.

Specific Coping Strategies

In the general research literature on coping, nine

primary forms of coping have been identified: cogni-

tive restructuring, problem solving, support seeking,

distraction, avoidance, social withdrawal, emotional

regulation/expressing emotions, rumination, and help-

lessness. Several studies have assessed the frequency

with which rape victims use these strategies and the

relationship between the use of the strategy and the

postrape symptoms of distress. Typical symptoms of

distress among rape victims include those associated

with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depres-

sion, and anxiety. Of the studies that have assessed

one of these forms of coping among rape victims,

avoidance and social withdrawal are generally associ-

ated with greater distress. Avoidance involves trying

not to think about or deal with the assault (e.g., trying

to block it out), and social withdrawal, of course,

involves withdrawing from others. The strategies

associated with better adjustment fall mainly within

the category of cognitive restructuring, which refers to

trying to see the assault in a different or more positive

light. Although this might seem unlikely, many vic-

tims do actually report positive changes in their lives

following an assault, such as that they appreciate life

more. Teaching coping skills such as cognitive

restructuring also has been found to reduce symptoms

in experimental studies. The results of studies assess-

ing emotional regulation/expressing emotions are

mixed, partly because of methodological problems

with the studies. However, the general research litera-

ture on coping suggests that expressing emotions is

associated with better adjustment. Another coping

strategy not included in this categorization scheme is

religious coping, which generally is associated with

lower distress levels among victims.

Another way in which victims may try to cope with

the assault is by drinking or using drugs. Several

studies indicate that victims report more alcohol and

drug abuse and dependence than do nonvictims.

Because drinking and drug use are risk factors for sex-

ual assault, it is important to try to determine if the

substance use came before or after the assault. Studies

that attempt to assess the timing of the substance

abuse relative to the sexual assault generally indicate

that the substance abuse started after the assault.

Alcohol and drug use by victims is related to higher

distress levels; thus, victims may be using substances

to self-medicate their distress.

Social Support

Although support seeking is considered one of the pri-

mary forms of coping, research on support processes in

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