Positive life changes following sexual assault: A replication and extension

Posttraumatic life change was investigated in a sample of nonrecent sexual assault survivors. An average of 16 years postassault, most survivors identified positive changes that had resulted from the assault, particularly in the domains of self (e.g., increased assertiveness), spirituality (e.g., spiritual well-being), and empathy (e.g., concern for others' suffering). Negative changes in beliefs about the fairness and safety of the world also were common, however. Controlling for recent life stressors and personality, positive changes were associated with fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and greater life satisfaction. Self-reported positive changes generally were related to personality, social support, coping, and control appraisals in hypothesized directions. Coping and control appraisals (particularly control over the recovery process) mediated the relations among personality and social support and positive life change.