Survival and Coping After Rape

Definition of Coping

Researchers have differed in their definitions of coping as a psychological construct. Some have emphasized the innate capacity to alter one's responses after a traumatic event, but others have minimized the influence of resiliency traits and implicated a victim's sense of agency in the coping process. From this perspective, a woman will actively employ both cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage her experience of distress. Cognitive strategies involve attempts to alter the perception or thoughts about the distressing situation. Alternatively, behavioral strategies are observable actions that assist in coping with the impact of the rape.

The research on survival and coping after rape has focused on investigating the degree to which various cognitive and behavioral approaches are effective in reducing symptoms of distress. Adaptive strategies are those that have been found to improve psychological functioning over time, whereas mal-adaptive strategies hinder the recovery process by maintaining or exacerbating a victim's symptoms.

Adaptive Coping Strategies

Women who have been raped often struggle to regain a sense of control over their lives. Cognitive strategies for salvaging control include efforts to alter the perception of the rape; namely, attempts at cognitive restructuring. Indeed, a victim may find meaning in this traumatic event by comparing herself to others in worse situations or by redefining her purpose in life so that important goals are no longer blocked. Further, when stressors are perceived as controllable, a survivor is more likely to utilize approach coping. Approach tactics are focused on confronting either the emotional reactions to the problem or the problem itself. This type of coping is ultimately associated with higher levels of psychological adjustment after a rape.

One such approach strategy is the use of problem-solving behaviors, or actions that are focused on alleviating distress by altering the stressful situation. For example, a rape survivor may invest in an alarm to increase personal safety or seek counseling. Although support seeking has also been correlated with a successful recovery, the reasons for this link remain conflicted in the literature. Some studies have speculated that the presence of support increases the likelihood of disclosure, as well as provides a victim with ongoing comfort and advice throughout the recovery process. Indeed, victims who are able to express and regulate their emotions have experienced a reduction in psychological distress. Yet, other studies have argued that a support network reassures the victim of her self-worth, thereby buffering the potential for self-blame following an assault.

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