The Mediating Effects of Coping Strategies on the Relationship between Attributional Styles and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder among Sexual Assault Victims

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of coping strategies on the relationship between attributional styles and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among sexual assault victims. Participants were a total of 70 victims of sexual assault and the data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The data were analyzed using regression analysis and Sobel test. The results showed that the blaming others significantly affected PTSD. Also, self-destructive behaviors among coping strategies fully mediated the relationship between the blaming others and PTSD. That is, as the victims demonstrated more attributions with blaming other people, they tended to demonstrate the self-destructive behaviors more frequently. The results suggest that intervention for attributional styles and coping strategies should be provided to decrease the post-traumatic stress of the victims of sexual assault. Treatment programs and aftercare services need to be provided to sexual assault victims.