Sexual Assault Survivors' Reactions to a Thought Suppression Paradigm

• NCJ Number: 215101
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 473-481
• Author(s): Mandy M. Rabenhorst Ph.D.
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH019952-08
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored the effects of an experimental thought suppression task on adult survivors of sexual assault with and without symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Abstract

Results revealed that at both data collection points (immediately following the thought suppression task and 2- to 4-weeks following the task), the majority of participants reported neutral or positive thoughts and feelings about the experiment and indicated a willingness to participate in similar studies. Although not statistically significant, it was found that participants with PTSD symptoms were more likely to report negative reactions to the suppression task compared to participants without symptoms of PTSD. The findings are consistent with results of previous research and suggest that most trauma survivors are not harmed by participating in an experimental thought suppression task in which the target of the suppression is a description of their own sexual assault. Participants were 62 female undergraduate students recruited from a large midwestern university into 3 study groups: (1) those with a history of sexual assault in adulthood with symptoms of PTSD; (2) those with a history of sexual assault in adulthood without symptoms of PTSD; and (3) those without a history of sexual assault and without symptoms of PTSD. The thought suppression experiment involved a series of 3-minute periods in which participants were instructed to deliver verbal streams of consciousness as they responded to the experimenter’s instructions to either suppress or express certain thoughts. Immediately following the experiment and then again 2- to 4-weeks following the experiment, participants answered questions about their feelings and their perceptions of the experiment. Data were coded and analyzed using both statistical and qualitative methods. Future research should continue to explore which characteristics of trauma-focused experimental research may lead to increased reports of participant harm. Tables, references