Citation

Chang EC, Lee J, Morris LE, Lucas AG, Chang OD, Hirsch JK. J. Interpers. Violence 2017; ePub(ePub): 886260517719901.

Affiliation

East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260517719901

PMID

29294830

Abstract

The present study examined negative life events (NLEs) and sexual assault victimization as predictors of positive and negative psychological functioning in a sample of 151 female college students.

RESULTS obtained from conducting regression analyses indicated several notable patterns. NLEs, compared with sexual assault victimization, were a stronger negative predictor of positive functioning based on indices related to subjective well-being (e.g., life satisfaction, positive affect). Alternatively, sexual assault victimization, compared with NLEs, was a stronger positive predictor of negative functioning based on indices related to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (e.g., anxiety) and related conditions (e.g., alcohol use). Furthermore, both NLEs and sexual assault victimization were found to be positive predictors of negative functioning based on indices related to suicide risk (e.g., depressive symptoms, suicidal behaviors). Overall, our findings indicate that both NLEs and sexual assault victimization represent important and distinct predictors of psychological functioning in female college students.

Language: en

Keywords

female college students; negative life events; psychological functioning; sexual assault victimization