Mental health of victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo: associations with daily stressors, stigma, and labeling

Background: The conflict-ridden context of eastern Congo has set the scene for grueling human rights violations, with sexual violence as one of the 'weapons of war'. Currently, sexual violence continues, with a considerable increase in civilian perpetrators. However, little is known regarding the particular impact of different experiences of sexual violence on adolescents' mental health. This study therefore investigates the impact of sexual violence on eastern Congolese adolescents' mental health and its differing associations with daily stressors, stigma, and the labeling of sexual violence (as 'rape' or 'non-consensual sexual experience'). Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based survey design was implemented in 22 secondary schools, randomly selected from a stratified sample, in Bunia, eastern Congo, a region extensively affected by war. A total of 1,305 school-going adolescent girls aged 11 to 23 participated. Self-report measures of mental health symptoms, war-related traumatic events, experiences of sexual violence, daily stressors, and stigmatization were administered. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics, traumatic experiences and daily and social stressors between types of sexual violence (rape, non-consensual sexual violence, no sexual violence) were explored through statistical analysis. ANCOVA analyses investigated associations between those risk factors and adolescents' mental health. Results: More than one third of eastern Congolese adolescent girls reported experiences of sexual violence. Elevated levels of daily stressors, experiences of stigmatization, and stressful war-related events were found amongst girl victims of sexual violence, with the highest levels for girls who labeled the sexual violence as rape. Daily stressors, stigmatization, and war-related events showed a large impact on the girls' mental health. Last, girls who labeled the sexual violence as non-consensual sexual experiences reported more post-traumatic hyper-arousal and intrusion symptoms compared to those labeling the sexual violence as rape. Conclusions: These findings point to the important association between how war-affected adolescent girls label sexual violence (rape or non-consensual sexual experiences) and their mental health. This study also documents the large impact of sexual violence on other stressors (daily stressors, stigmatization, and stressful war events) and the impact of these stressors on girl victims' mental health. It discusses important implications for addressing sexual violence and its consequences in war-affected contexts

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in the State of Alaska: Key Results from the 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey

Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyThis document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey (AVS) for Alaska statewide and trends from 2010 to 2015, which show a decline in intimate partner and sexual violence in Alaska since 2010. The 2015 AVS statewide survey was conducted from May to August 2015, with results released on February 25, 2016 in Juneau. Findings include: * In 2010, 12 in 100 women had experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or both in Alaska during the previous year. By 2015, that number dropped to 8 in 100; * Intimate partner violence decreased by 32%; * Sexual violence decreased by 33%; * 6,556 fewer women experienced intimate partner violence in 2015 than in 2010; and * 3,072 fewer women experienced sexual violence in 2015 than 2010. The 2015 survey also indicated that: * 21,401 adult women in Alaska experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or both in the past year; and * Half of adult women in Alaska (more than 130,000) have experienced violence in their lifetime.Purpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation

Descriptive Analysis of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Incidents Closed by the Alaska State Troopers: 2008–2011 — Final Report

This report presents a descriptive analysis of sexual assault and domestic violence incidents closed by the Alaska State Troopers for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2011, as part of an effort to systematically document the formal processing of sexual assault (SA), sexual abuse of a minor (SAM), and domestic violence incidents reported to law enforcement agencies in Alaska.Report prepared under Grant #2013-BJ-CX-K031 from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.Acknowledgements / Key Findings / Introduction / PART I: Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse of a Minor Case Records / Case Record Characteristics / Suspect Characteristics / Victim Characteristics / Suspect and Victim Alcohol/Drug Use / Characteristics of Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse of a Minor Incidents / Legal Resolutions of Sexual Assault/Sexual Abuse of a Minor Cases / PART II: Domestic Violence Case Records / Defining Domestic Violence / Sample Assessment: Domestic Violence Cases / Case Record Characteristics / Suspect Characteristics / Victim Characteristics / Suspect and Victim Alcohol/Drug Use / Characteristics of Domestic Violence Incidents / Legal Resolutions of Domestic Violence Case

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in the Municipality of Anchorage: Key Results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey

This document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Municipality of Anchorage, which was conducted from April to June 2011, with results released on October 3, 2011 in Anchorage. Findings include: * Over 50% of adult women in the Municipality of Anchorage have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * Over 8% have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * Three out of every ten adult women in the Municipality of Anchorage have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * Four out of every ten have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyPurpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in Bristol Bay: Key Results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey

This document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Brisol Bay region, which was conducted from April to June 2011, with results released on October 12, 2011 in Dillingham. Findings include: * Over 50% of adult women in the Bristol Bay Region have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * Nearly 15% have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * 3 out of every 10 adult women in the Bristol Bay Region have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * 4 out of every 10 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyPurpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in the City and Borough of Sitka: Key Results from the 2012 Alaska Victimization Survey

This document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2012 Alaska Victimization Survey for the City and Borough of Sitka, which was conducted from March to May 2012, with results released on October 19, 2012 in Sitka. Findings include: * 47% of adult women in the City and Borough of Sitka have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * Nearly 7% have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * One out of every four adult women in the City and Borough of Sitka have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * Four out of every 10 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyPurpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough: Key Results from the 2013 Alaska Victimization Survey

This document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2013 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which was conducted from April to July 2013, with results released on October 8, 2013 in Wasilla. Findings include: * 53% of adult women in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * 9% have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * More than 3 out of every 10 adult women in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * More than 4 out of every 10 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyPurpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in the City of Fairbanks: Key Results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey

This document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey for the City of Fairbanks, which was conducted from April to June 2011, with results released on October 7, 2011 in Fairbanks. Findings include: * 57.0% of adult women in the City of Fairbanks have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * 11.5% of adult women in the City of Fairbanks have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * 3 out of every 10 adult women in the City of Fairbanks have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * 5 out of every 10 in the City of Fairbanks have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyPurpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation

Alaska Victimization Survey: 2011 Results for Bristol Bay

This is a handout of a Powerpoint slide presentation providing an overview of key results from the 2011 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Bristol Bay region, which was conducted from April to June 2011, with results released on October 12, 2011 in Dillingham. Findings include: * Over 50% of adult women in the Bristol Bay Region have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * Nearly 15% have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * 3 out of every 10 adult women in the Bristol Bay Region have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * 4 out of every 10 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyAlaska Victimization Survey in Bristol Bay / Intimate Partner Violence Definitions / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Definitions / Sexual Violence Estimates / Summary of Past Year Estimates / Summary of Lifetime Estimates / Lifetime Estimates / Important Limitations / A Special Thank You! / Contact

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in the Kodiak Island Borough: Key Results from the 2012 Alaska Victimization Survey

This document is a two-page summary of the key results from the 2012 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Kodiak Island Borough, which was conducted from March to May 2012, with results released on October 4, 2012 in Kodiak. Findings include: * Nearly 44% of adult women in the Kodiak Island Borough have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in their lifetime; * Over 6% have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, in the past year; * More than 1 out of every 5 adult women in the Kodiak Island Borough have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime; and * More than 1 out of every 3 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Department of Public SafetyPurpose of the Survey / Methodology / Acknowledgments / Key Estimates / Intimate Partner Violence Estimates / Sexual Violence Estimates / Important Limitation