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The Relationship Between the Effects of Rape, Posttraumatic Stress

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The Relationship Between the Effects of Rape, Posttraumatic Stress University of Mississippi eGrove Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2015 The Relationship Between The Effects Of Rape, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Complex Trauma, And Post-Attack Victim- Perpetrator Interaction In Female College Students Stephanie Christine Bell University of Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd Part of the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Bell, Stephanie Christine, "The Relationship Between The Effects Of Rape, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Complex Trauma, And Post-Attack Victim-Perpetrator Interaction In Female College Students" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 467. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/467 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EFFECTS OF RAPE, POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, COMPLEX TRAUMA, AND POST-ATTACK VICTIM-PERPETRATOR INTERACTION IN FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENTS A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Leadership and Counselor Education The University of Mississippi By STEPHANIE C. BELL April 2015 Copyright © 2015 by Stephanie C. Bell ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess for effects of rape that are specific to women attending college and for relationships between the effects of rape, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, previous trauma, complex trauma, and post-attack victim-perpetrator interaction to fill gaps in the literature around these issues. The survey was distributed to all female undergraduates at the main campus of a large, public university in the south (N ≈ 8,400). The sample consisted of 463 women (response rate = 5.5%). The majority of participants were between the ages of 18-22, Caucasian, lived off-campus, and with roommates. Participants received an e-mail sent from the registrar’s office containing information about online, anonymous study, a request for participation, and a list of counseling and psychoeducational resources. The survey consisted of a demographic questionnaire, questions about their experiences with rape since attending college, the Sexual Assault Symptom Scale-II (SASS-II), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire- Revised (SLESQ-R), a question on life changes since their rape, and questions on post-attack victim-perpetrator interaction. Sixteen percent reported being a victim of rape since attending college, and 84% of those women knew their perpetrator prior to the attack. Nearly half of those who were raped since attending college had been revictimized. Seventy-two percent of participants reported experiencing previous trauma, and 74.5% reported experiencing previous complex trauma. Of the women who were raped since attending college, 65.6% reported encountering their perpetrator since the attack, and 34.4% did not. ii In analyzing the data, the researcher found that being a victim of rape or acquaintance rape while attending college was a significant influence on whether a participant would meet the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder threshold for diagnosis on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. There was evidence of a significant relationship between being a victim of rape since attending college and having a history of complex trauma. There was also evidence that being a victim of rape since attending college and encountering one’s perpetrator since the attack increased the participants’ Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, and the chances they would engage in more lifestyle changes. iii DEDICATION To all victims of rape who are now survivors, and capable of things you never thought possible. “Sometimes the dreams that come true are the dreams you never even knew you had.” -Alice Sebold iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS AR Acquaintance Rape CT Complex Trauma DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition PCL-5 PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 PT Previous Trauma PTSD Posttraumatic Stress Disorder RTS Rape Trauma Syndrome RV Revictimization SLESQ-R Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire-Revised v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my Co-Chair, Dr. Lori Wolff. Without your tireless efforts, this project never would have materialized. You have been a profound supporter of my work, and a mentor to me. I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you for all of the time and effort you’ve given to this project. I want to thank my Co-Chair, Dr. Marilyn Snow, for your encouragement to pursue my ideas and see this project to fruition. Speaking with you about the trauma focus of this project inspired me to make it a reality. I also want to thank my committee members: Dr. Amanda Winburn, and Dr. Marie Barnard for giving their time and guidance to help with this project. I would like to especially thank my mentor, Dr. Kevin Stoltz. The encouragement and guidance you provided me throughout the program kept me going, even when I thought I couldn’t. You have been a tremendous influence on my development as a counselor educator, and writer, and for that I will forever be in your debt. I must also thank two other mentors who had a significant impact on me during my master’s program that led me to pursue doctoral studies: Drs. Amy Marie Cobb, and Kenisha Gordon. Lastly, I would like to thank my mother Pat, and late father, Frank. Their consistent support of my education, which began when I was very young, had a tremendous influence on where I am today. My mother has been my number one cheerleader the past three years, and for that I am so thankful. I am very lucky to have a group of amazing friends and family who have done nothing but encourage me and do their best to keep me sane throughout this entire process. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................... … iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS ........................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... viii INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 13 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................... 34 FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................. 55 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................. 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 102 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................. 114 VITA ........................................................................................................................................... 134 vii LIST OF TABLES 1. Participant Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 61 2. Important Frequencies .............................................................................................................. 63 3. Crosstabulation Table for Two-Way Chi-Square Analysis Based on Rape Status .................. 65 4. Crosstabulation Table for Two-Way Chi-Square Analysis Based on AR Status ..................... 67 5. PCL-5 Score by PT for Rape Group ......................................................................................... 69 6. PCL-5 Score by PT for AR Group ............................................................................................ 70 7. PCL-5 Score by Previous CT for Rape Group .......................................................................... 71 8. PCL-5 Score by Previous CT for AR Group ............................................................................ 73 9. Frequency Table for One-Way Chi-Square Analysis ............................................................... 74 10. Frequency Table for One-Way Chi-Square Analysis ............................................................. 76 11. Statistics for Rape Group ........................................................................................................ 78 12. PCL-5 Score and SASS-II Score by Encounter Status for Rape Group ................................. 79 13. Statistics for AR Group ........................................................................................................... 81 14. PCL-5 Score and SASS-II Score by Encounter Status for
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