Attributions, coping, self-blame and emotional status in victims of rape and domestic violence
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study compared victims of rape and domestic violence on causal attributions, perceived control, coping, self-blame and depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and self-esteem. Participants were rape victims from rape crisis centers and victims of domestic violence from domestic violence shelters. A group of victims emerged who were victims of both rape and domestic violence and they were grouped separately for analyses. Victims of both types of violence made significantly more stable attributions for abuse than did victims of rape or domestic violence. There were no between group differences in perceived control, coping, self-blame or emotional status. This study also examined the relationship between causal attributions, perceived control, coping and self-blame and emotional status. When the joint contribution of all variables was assessed, characterological self-blame and self-blame coping remained the only significant determinants of greater depression and lower self-esteem. Self-blame coping remained the only significant determinant of anxiety, and substance use coping remained the only significant determinant of PTSD. Results were discussed in terms of clinical and public policy implications.
Author: Carrie D. Randa
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1559719980