Sexual violence research across levels of the social ecology : from the individual to the societal

Sexual violence is a common and harmful form of trauma. In this article collection, EJPT features research on sexual violence spanning levels of the social ecology. First, we discuss the individual-level studies in this collection, which report on sexual violence prevalence, impact, prevention, and intervention. These papers highlight best practices for assessing sexual assault (i.e., via behaviorally-specific questionnaires), indicate the substantial and enduring mental health effects of sexual violence, and suggest that a number of prevention and intervention strategies are feasible and promising. Then, we highlight studies that broaden their lens to survivors’ interpersonal relationships: these studies provide new evidence for the relationship between social support and posttraumatic stress. Broadening the lens further still to community service systems, the studies in this collection highlight the utility of evaluating the functioning of service systems and obtaining input from stakeholders in these systems; they also suggest that digital technologies are a promising strategy to expand reach to interventions. Finally, at the broadest level of the social ecology, these studies suggest that there is still work to do as a society to promote positive change in terms of views of sexual violence and policies that increase access to needed help, and that such changes can impact individual survivors’ experiences. Considered together, this collection clearly demonstrates that sexual violence does not happen in a vacuum, and it highlights the need for more contextually-focused research on this important social issue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sexual violence has enduring mental health effects, but prevention and intervention are feasible.
• Systems change efforts should aim to improve the support survivors get from their interpersonal relationships and the service systems in their communities.
• Societal change is still needed in terms of views of sexual violence and policies that promote care access.