Victim and Crime Characteristics, Coping Responses, and Short- and Long-Term Recovery From Victimization

• NCJ Number: 112380
• Journal: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Dated: (1987) Pages: 866-871
• Author(s): P W Wirtz; A V Harrell
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The victims of 5 crime types are contrasted on victim characteristics, crime characteristics, and coping responses to the crime and on 4 measures of 1- and 6-month psychological distress.

Abstract

Significant sociodemographic and coping response differences were found between victims of different crime types. Changing telephone numbers and staying home more were associated with significantly higher levels of 1- and 6-month psychological distress. Victims of all crime types declined in average 6-month distress levels regardless of whether or not they had selected a coping response, with one notable exception: those who reported changing telephone numbers actually showed an increase in average fear level across the 6-month study period. These results suggest that although certain coping responses may vary by crime type and may serve as indicators of high levels of initial distress, common responses do not appear to significantly facilitate the recovery process. (Publisher abstract)