Adaptive coping in sexual assault: A study of survivors and their informal supports.

OBJECTIVE

Survivors of sexual assault engage in various adaptive coping strategies. Little in-depth research has addressed coping that facilitates recovery, particularly in dyadic samples of survivors and their informal supports.

METHOD

In the present study, a diverse sample of female sexual assault survivors ( = 45; 75% racial/ethnic minorities) and their informal support providers (SP; e.g., family, friends, romantic partners) were interviewed separately about survivors' experiences of disclosure and postassault coping. Adaptive coping strategies by survivors were described by 34 survivors and 23 SPs, of which 19 were matched survivor-SP provider dyadic pairs. Narrative data on the overarching concept of adaptive coping was analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis methods (Braun & Clarke, 2022).

RESULTS

Several themes emerged specific to adaptive coping: emotion-focused (e.g., spiritual, positive reappraisal, self-regulation), problem-focused (e.g., independence/stability actions, positive activities, sexual assault study participation), and relational (e.g., disclosing assault to others, seeking professional help, helping/caring for others, choosing healthier relationships) coping.

CONCLUSIONS

Research and clinical implications are drawn to facilitate survivors' adaptive coping from survivor and informal SP perspectives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).