Objective: Sexual violence disproportionately impacts Black girls and women in the United States. The literature documents the long-term mental health outcomes of childhood sexual trauma, but research on resilience-promoting factors for Black women survivors of such trauma is sparse. The present study tests hypotheses about the influence of Black girls' social connectedness (e.g., with mothers, peers, and racial/ethnic community) on the association between adolescent sexual trauma and early adulthood well-being.
Method: Participants included 850 Black girls from the Pittsburgh Girls Study. Girls reported prospectively and retrospectively on experiences of sexual trauma between ages 13 and 17. Annual assessments of social connectedness comprised reports of closeness with mother, peer social self-worth, and belonging/affirmation in racial/ethnic identity. In early adulthood (ages 18-21), participants reported on psychological flourishing.
Results: Approximately 10% ( = 83) of participants reported having experienced sexual trauma during adolescence. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that adolescent sexual trauma predicted lower psychological flourishing, whereas peer social self-worth and belonging in racial/ethnic identity predicted higher psychological flourishing in early adulthood. Tests of moderation revealed no significant effects of social connectedness on the association between adolescent sexual trauma and later psychological flourishing.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that Black women survivors of adolescent sexual trauma may experience lower psychological flourishing than those without histories of such trauma and support the importance of multiple domains of social connectedness for Black adolescent girls, in general. However, further research is needed on race- and gender-specific contextual factors that enable Black women survivors of sexual trauma to thrive. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001729 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Background: Feelings of shame after interpersonal assault directly impact survivor well-being. Although the concept of trauma-related shame has been well defined and applied in psychology, the direct application to nursing care for victims of sexual assault is unclear.
Objective: The aim of this study was to perform an interdisciplinary concept analysis to clarify and synthesize the concept of trauma-related shame as it relates to interpersonal assault.
Developing Guidelines for Conducting Stigma Research With Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals: Protocol for Creation of a Trauma-Informed Approach to Research.
JMIR Res Protoc
January 2025
Hunter Alliance for Research and Translation, Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, United States.
Background: Transgender and nonbinary individuals have received increasing attention within HIV research, with studies documenting the pervasive role stigma plays in creating and sustaining health inequities. However, the proliferation of HIV stigma research with this population has also raised concerns about research practices that may unintentionally stigmatize or retraumatize the very communities they are designed to benefit. Conducting stigma research is critical for generating accurate information about HIV epidemiology, risk and protective factors, and intervention strategies for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Developmental Origins of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Am J Hum Biol
January 2025
Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
Objectives: The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework contends that chronic diseases are attributable to behavioral and environmental risks encountered during vital periods of fetal and childhood development. Clinical research investigating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) largely focuses on adult risk factors, with emerging evidence of epigenetic contributions. Limited work considers potential childhood exposures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder and complex PTSD: prevalence, predictors, and construct validity in Swiss older adults.
Eur J Psychotraumatol
December 2025
Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Zurich, Switzerland.
This study assessed the prevalence rates, construct validity, predictors, and psychosocial factors linked to ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD), as assessed by the (ITQ) in a German-speaking sample of Swiss older adults. Participants were = 1526 older adults aged 65+ ( = 72.34; = 6.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommunity case study: Our Wave, an online platform to facilitate survivor disclosure of sexual assault and trauma recovery.
Front Public Health
January 2025
Our Wave, Raleigh, NC, United States.
This community case study introduces Our Wave, an online platform that provides a safe, anonymous space for survivors of sexual harm to share their stories, reflect on their healing journeys, and connect with others. Designed to empower survivors, the platform allows users to post anonymous stories or visual media, ask questions, and send messages of hope, all while prioritizing privacy and security. It also aims to create a broader impact by analyzing shared narratives to detect patterns, identify best practices for healing, and inform global approaches to SV recovery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!