Intra- and inter-personal predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and sexual risk-taking behaviors

<p>Sexual risk-taking, while common in college culture, can increase the risk of sexual victimization. Nearly 20% of college women have been sexually assaulted (Krebs et al., 2009). Moreover, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been associated with sexual risk-taking (Johnson & Johnson, 2013). Self-esteem and social support are known to be related to PTSD and sexual risk-taking (Gullette & Lyons, 2006; Johnson & Johnson, 2013). This study aims to examine sexual victimization history, self-esteem, and social support as relative predictors of PTSD and sexual risk-taking using a sample of 229 female undergraduates. Results suggest that enhancing self-esteem, as opposed to bolstering social support, may have a greater relative impact on PTSD symptoms even after accounting for the impact of sexual victimization history. Moreover, the reduction of PTSD symptoms may have the potential to minimize sexual risk-taking behavior; however, future research is needed to determine temporal relations between these variables.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2018

Author dc:creator

• Kennedy, Seigie L

Contributors dc:contributor

• Christina Balderrama-Durbin

• Psychology
• Posttraumatic stress
• Self-esteem
• Sexual assault
• Sexual risk-taking
• Social support

Repository record dc:identifier

https://orb.binghamton.edu/dissertation_and_theses/34

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:orb.binghamton.edu:dissertation_and_theses-1053