Assessment of the Effects of Interpersonal Openness and Coping Resources on the Psychological Sequelae of Traumatic Victimization

The present study tested a model addressing whether interpersonal Openness and interpersonal and intrapersonal Coping Resources mediated the relationship between interpersonal Victimization and the Psychological Symptoms women experience as a result of these traumas. Victimization indicators (physical violence, sexual assault, psychological abuse, and revictimization), Coping indicators (optimism, self-esteem, private self-consciousness, social network and therapy), Openness indicators (self-silencing, communal orientation, trust, self-monitoring, and network orientation), and Psychological Symptoms indicators (global distress, dissociation, and suicidal ideation) were examined separately for African American (n = 245), Euro-American (n = 185), and Mexican American (n = 202) women. Structural Equation Modeling revealed that for African American and Euro-American women, Openness partially mediated the victimization-distress relationship. The model for Mexican Americans was the most complex with Openness and intrapersonal Coping fully mediating the psychological effects of victimization. Approximately 50% of the variance in psychological symptoms resulting from victimization was predicted by this model for African American and Euro-American women; over 80% of the variance was predicted for Mexican Americans. Thus, the importance of Openness to relationships in alleviating the psychological sequelae following interpersonal victimization was underscored by the results. Similarities and differences between these models are discussed. Implications of the results for future research and intervention are addressed.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2000

Author dc:creator

• Sedillo, Diane Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Marshall, Linda L.
• Campbell, Viki L.
• Lane, Timothy
• Eve, Susan

• Adjustment (Psychology)
• Interpersonal relations and culture -- United States.
• interpersonal openness
• Openness
• coping
• ethnicity
• low-income women

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Sedillo, Diane Marie
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 47785323
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2698/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc2698

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc2698