Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosure: Differential Effects on Posttraumatic Cognitions by Race/Ethnicity
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Survivors of sexual assault often disclose their experiences to close support members to seek emotional and practical support. Research consistently demonstrates that post-assault outcomes are shaped by the responses survivors receive following disclosure. Negative responses, in particular, are associated with worsened posttrauma outcomes; however, limited research has examined disclosure experiences among non-White/Latine women. The present study aimed to address this gap by examining associations between specific disclosure response types ( Positive , Turning Against , Unsupportive Acknowledgment ) and negative posttraumatic cognitions among 201 women survivors of sexual assault. Descriptive analyses indicated that racial/ethnic minority participants reported higher rates of both positive and unsupportive acknowledgment responses compared to White/non-Latine women. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that turning against responses were the most consistently associated with stronger negative cognitions about the self, the world, and self-blame. Moderation analyses revealed that turning against responses had stronger negative effects on self-related cognitions among racial/ethnic minority survivors. In contrast, positive responses were associated with reduced negative world-related cognitions only among White/non-Latine participants. These findings highlight important racial/ethnic differences in disclosure experiences and recovery processes. Moreover, they emphasize the need for increased empirical attention to developing culturally responsive models of social support.
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: National Institutes of Health
OpenAlex ID: W7225376066