Rape Disclosure and Depression Among Community Women: The Mediating Roles of Shame and Experiential Avoidance

Violence Against Women. 2019 Aug;25(10):1226-1242. doi: 10.1177/1077801218811683. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

Abstract

Many women who disclose a rape encounter victim-blaming responses, which are associated with negative outcomes. The present study examined rape-related shame and experiential avoidance as mediators of the relation between victim-blaming responses to rape disclosure and depression among 103 rape survivors drawn from a community sample. Results revealed that victim-blaming responses were positively associated with depressive symptoms through rape-related shame and experiential avoidance, and shame was indirectly related to depression via avoidance. Findings suggest clinical interventions should focus on rape-related shame and experiential avoidance in targeting depression among rape survivors, and future research should continue to examine how victim-blaming responses to rape disclosure may be related to these factors.

Keywords: blame; depression; disclosure; experiential avoidance; rape; shame; victim blaming.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Avoidance Learning
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data
  • Depression / etiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Rape / psychology*
  • Rape / statistics & numerical data
  • Shame
  • Social Perception
  • Truth Disclosure*