Project 176550

While exceptionally high rates of distress including posttraumatic stress disorder are seen among survivors of sexual assault, there is emerging evidence that individuals experiencing a traumatic event, even one such as sexual assault, can also experience some positive outcomes. These outcomes are sometimes referred to as posttraumatic growth and are associated with a number of personal and social characteristics as well as coping and cognitive processing or appraisal strategies. Research studies have shown that the use of a cognitive processing approach identified as rumination, may be related to experiencing both posttraumatic distress and posttraumatic growth. Our study is designed to explore the role of rumination in mediating the overall relationship between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth in sexual assault survivors as well as to examine some of the cognitive processing strategies associated with reducing post-assault distress. Specifically we focus on two forms of rumination, i.e., intrusive and negative rumination and deliberate and positive rumination and explore their association with posttraumatic mental health outcomes in sexual assault. Our previous clinical work demonstrates that deliberate and positive rumination, clearly differentiated from intrusive and negative rumination, is associated with posttraumatic growth following sexual assault. We aim to demonstrate that skills to implement this form of rumination can be acquired through cognitive behavioural intervention strategies. This research addresses the critically important area of posttraumatic mental health in sexual assault survivors. The high rates and negative personal, social and economic costs of sexual assault are well known. This study aims to identify and examine factors related to reducing risks of posttraumatic psychopathology and improving health care delivery and the personal health of sexual assault survivors.