The relationship between measures of resilience and response to treatment in survivors of sexual abuse

Research, past and present, is clear and consistent in the findings related to the negative effects of sexual abuse. The research supports the fact that the negative impact of sexual abuse does not discriminate against gender, age, SES, or ethnicity; it is widely acknowledged that everyone is susceptible to the far-reaching effects of sexual abuse. However, new research is finding that some people may be less susceptible to the development of pathology like PTSD, if certain protective factors are present like a solid, functional support system, intact intellectual functions, and future-oriented thinking patterns. Current research on the construct of resilience is showing people who are more resilient have more positive outcomes as compared to their non-resilient counterparts. However, there is little research investigating one's awareness of their own resilience and what impact their awareness may or may not have on treatment. This study found the relationship between a survivor's acknowledgment of personal resilience, and their level of resilience as measured by a standardized assessment tool, to be positively correlated. People who endorsed higher levels of resilience, reported fewer trauma symptoms. Gender differences were observed in levels of reporting pre- and post-test.

Keywords: trauma, resilience, sexual abuse, mindfulness