Ryan M. Walsh, M.a. & Steven E. Bruce, Ph.d.: How Are Legal System Results And Satisfaction Related?

Temporal control and distress levels in sexual assault survivors: How are legal system results and satisfaction related?

Ryan M. Walsh, M.A. & Steven E. Bruce, Ph.D. University of Missouri – Saint Louis Center for Trauma Recovery

Introduction Research suggests a relationship between levels of perceived temporal control and levels of distress in sexual assault survivors (Frazier, 2003). Additional studies suggest that involvement with the criminal justice system may lead to a “revictimization” of crime survivors (Maier, 2008), by potentially causing greater distress for those who report their crimes to authorities when compared to those who do not. Other studies have obtained conflicting results (Orth & Maercker, 2004). However, although these studies have examined how legal system variables relate to levels of distress, none have examined how legal system variables relate to perceptions of past, present, and future control. The present study examined these relationships. It was hypothesized that greater levels of perceived present and future control would be related to lower levels of current distress, while greater levels of perceived past (peritraumatic) control would be related to higher levels of current distress. Further, the presence of a relationship between levels of temporal control and legal system success and satisfaction was investigated. It was hypothesized that those who were more satisfied and successful with the prosecution of their cases would place less blame on themselves, and more on the offender. It was additionally hypothesized that higher levels of legal system satisfaction and success would be related to greater levels of perceived present and future control in victims.

Procedure • Participants who had been sexually assaulted were recruited through advertisements. Sexual assault was defined as forced unlawful sexual contact by another individual. • Levels of temporal control were determined with a modified version of the Rape Attribution Questionnaire (Frazier, 2003). • Levels of distress were measured with the BDI-II and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). • Levels of legal system “success” were measured with a locally constructed questionnaire, and legal system “satisfaction” was measured with a modified version of a scale by Frazier and Haney (1996). •All interviews were conducted by doctoral students in a clinical psychology program.

Conclusions

Participants

• The present study adds to the results of Frazier (2003), showing a relationship between levels of temporal control and different measures of crime survivor distress (CAPS & BDI-II as compared to brief measures of anxiety, depression, and hostility).

• 41 adult female survivors of sexual assault

• Ages ranged from 18 to 54 (M = 34.63, SD = 9.66). • 51% were African-American, 46% were Caucasian, and 1 participant (2%) of another racial descent. • Years of education ranged from 10 to 18 (M = 13.6, SD = 2.3). • 34 percent of participants were unemployed, while the remaining 66 percent were employed full or part-time. • The amount of time since the sexual assault ranged from three months to 9 ½ years. (M = 21.7 months, SD = 23.6).

Table 1. Relations of distress severity, levels of legal system satisfaction, and levels of legal system success to perceived levels of temporal control. Future Control

Present Behavioral Offender Control Future Future Self-Blame Blame (Un)liklihood Control BDI – II

.408**

.223

-.567**

-.534**

.152

CAPS

.274

.350*

-.553**

-.363*

-.169

Satisfaction With CJ Response

.357

.327

-.483*

-.163

.178

Legal System “Success”

-.035

* p < .05, ** p < .01

.137

-.470*

• Analyses indicated no significant difference in present symptom severity between those who reported their crimes to police and those who did not. • Crime survivors who report their crime yield a great deal of control to authorities •Thus, it is not surprising that those who are satisfied or successful with their case rated levels of present control lower.

Results

Past Control

• However, the current study found some differing effects between posttraumatic and depressive symptomology.

-.366

-.422

• This suggests that survivors who are dissatisfied with the criminal justice system may take a greater level of responsibility for their own recovery. • Alternatively, those who are satisfied with the handling of their case may allow themselves to take less responsibility, as they may perceive their case as being handled adequately. • Power limited the results of the current study • The construct validity of the legal system success variable is unclear, as it only measured how far the case went toward prosecution. Alternative measurements of this construct would be beneficial to future research. • Future research is warranted to verify these results and examine these variables in a larger sample and with clearer measures of criminal justice system success and satisfaction.

References 1. Frazier , P. A. (2003). Perceived control and distress following sexual crime: A longitudinal test of a new model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1257-1269. 2. Maier, S. L. (2008). “I have heard horrible stories…”: Rape victim advocates’ perceptions of the revictimization of rape victims by the police and medical system. Violence Against Women, 14, 786-808. 3. Orth, U., & Maercker, A. (2004). Do trials of perpetrators retraumatize crime victims? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 212-227. 4. Frazier, P. A., & Haney, B. (1996). Sexual crime cases in the legal system: Police, prosecutor, and victim perspectives. Law and Human Behavior, 20, 607-628.