Correlation between coping strategies and the levels of post traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among sexually assaulted survivors in North West Province, South Africa

Abstract

Sexual assault is a wide public health problem given the number of people who are sexually assaulted. Sexual assault affects the psychological well being of people who experience it.The most common reported psychological problems are PTSD and depressive symptoms especially after four to six weeks post sexual assault.These Co morbid disorders affect the normal functioning of an individual such home chores, work and increase mortality rate among sexual assaulted survivors. It was also documented that coping strategies (maladaptive or adaptive) employed by sexual assaulted survivors are the one that determine their recovery.Hence, there was a need to investigate the correlation between coping strategies, the level of PTSD and the level of depression in Ngaka Modiri Molema in the North West Province of South Africa. The study aimed to investigate correlation between coping strategies and the levels of PTSD and depression among sexual assaulted survivors. Correlational cross-sectional design was used in this study.Sample size of 115 of sexually assaulted participants between the age of 18 and 50 was determined through the use of Raosoft calculator. PCL for PTSD, BDI and brief COPE instruments were used to collect data. Information about socio demographic was also obtained.Data analysis was done through frequency distribution to describe the demographic data, levels of PTSD and depression.Data were also analysed through Pearson correlations to determine the possible relationship between coping, PTSD and depressive symptoms. ANOVA, chi-square, cross tabulation were also done to determine the possible relationship between demographic data, level of PTSD and depression. Results showed high level of PTSD and low level of depression among sexual assaulted survivors.They have also showed that there is no relationship between coping strategies and PTSD, and that there was a relationship between coping and depressive symptoms.These findings indicate that coping strategies cannot be regarded as one the factors that can control the non-development and development of PTSD, but could be regarded as one the factors that can account to development and non development of depression.