NCJ Number
217338
Journal
Journal of Trauma Practice Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 21-36
Date Published
2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study compared the nature, prevalence, and outcome of trauma for Caucasian and African-American treatment-seeking women.
Abstract
The findings indicated that, in contrast to the hypothesis, Caucasian treatment-seeking women reported greater distress than their African-American counterparts on several measures of mental health functioning, including anxiety, depression, intrusive experiences, and dissociation. Caucasian women were more likely to be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than African-American women. However, African-American women reported a greater prevalence of sibling sexual abuse, multiple incidents of sexual abuse, and childhood physical abuse. The results suggest that equivalence in trauma exposure and response cannot be assumed and it is therefore important for clinicians and researchers to be cognizant of differences in post-trauma functioning among racial and cultural groups. Data were drawn from the charts of 88 consecutive adult female clients who sought treatment at an outpatient clinic specializing in the treatment of trauma victims. Participant's charts were coded according to diagnosis, trauma symptoms, perceptions of risk in intimacy, sexual functioning, sexual history, trauma history, and psychological functioning following trauma. Data analysis included the use of chi-square calculations and one-way ANOVAs. Future research should examine the risk and protective factors associated with post-trauma distress to determine their relationship with race and post-trauma functioning. Future research should also focus on the cultural validity of psychological assessment instruments. Tables, references