Correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis among rape survivors : results and implications of a South African study

Abstract

This study aimed to describe factors associated with the experience of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among rape survivors. Participants were female survivors attending a treatment centre in South Africa (black = 85%, coloured = 15%; age range = 18 to 55 years). Data were collected through interviewing all rape survivors who agreed to participate in this study, using the Post Traumatic Diagnostic Scale-5 (PDS-5). Descriptive statistics, chi-square, phi-crammer, and regression analysis were used to determine the relationship of PTSD and the demographic data. About 74.5% of rape survivors had high PSTD, and PSTD symptoms were most elevated among those with high religiosity. These results show that PTSD is a reality for the majority of rape survivors, and that those with a strong religious belief system are at elevated risk for PTSD.