Abstract
This chapter reviews research on four components of meaning making following sexual assault and interventions addressing these components. Several findings emerged. First, self-blame is associated with more distress, whereas focusing on what can be controlled in the present (e.g., the recovery process) is associated with less distress. Second, survivors often report that their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world changed in a negative direction following the assault; having more negative beliefs is in turn associated with reporting more distress. Third, survivors often report positive life changes, particularly more compassion. Finally, cognitive processing therapy was specifically designed to help sexual assault survivors reduce their fear and change the meaning of the event and has been shown to be effective in several studies, with treatment gains maintained 5-10. years posttreatment. Online interventions that increase perceived control also show promise.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Reconstructing Meaning After Trauma |
Subtitle of host publication | Theory, Research, and Practice |
Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
Pages | 103-116 |
Number of pages | 14 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128030363 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780128030158 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 4 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Interventions
- Meaning
- Perceived control
- Posttraumatic growth
- Self-blame
- Sexual assault
- World assumptions