Reactions to Sexual Assault Disclosure Related to Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Symptoms via Self-Compassion Among College Women.

Women who disclose sexual assault (SA) may receive positive (supportive) or negative (unsupportive) reactions from others upon disclosure. The study tested indirect effects from negative and positive SA disclosure reactions to posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms via two aspects of self-compassion (compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding) and fear of self-compassion. The presence of child maltreatment was examined as a moderator of all effects. The sample consisted of 300 college women in the United States (M age = 18.83 years, standard deviation = 1.00; 93.7% White) who had disclosed SA. Path analysis was used with a multigroup approach to test moderation by child maltreatment history. Child maltreatment history moderated the effects in the model. In the no-child-maltreatment group, SA disclosure reactions were not related to compassionate or uncompassionate self-responding, or fear of self-compassion. In contrast, in the any-child-maltreatment group, negative reactions were associated with greater fear of self-compassion and compassionate self-responding, while positive reactions were linked to lower fear of self-compassion. Indirect effects of positive and negative reactions on posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms via fear of self-compassion were significant. Findings suggest that child maltreatment may modify the relations among SA disclosure reactions, compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding, fear of self-compassion, and psychological distress among college women survivors.