Author(s): Tasha Seppie, Lee (Avalie) Sego, Ayleen Lara, Emily Covarrubias, Robb McCullagh
Mentor(s): Kent Hinkson, Malisa Brooks
Institution UVU
On average, over 460,000 people aged 12 and above are raped and/or sexually assaulted each year in the United States (Department of Justice, 2023). Sexual assault is a known cause of PTSD, suicide, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders (Madowitz et al., 2017; Backhaus et al., 2021; Fergusson et al., 2002). A study researching the prevalence of suicidality in sexually assaulted populations found that they were approximately 27% more likely to have suicidal ideation compared to their unassaulted subsamples (Dworkin et al., 2020). Another study found that almost 75% of participants who had been assaulted met the criteria for PTSD one month post-assault (Dworkin et al., 2023). PTSD has been shown to be related to suicidal ideations, depression, and gender dysphoria (Albanese et al., 2021; Evans, 2023). A significant deficiency in our current understanding of sexual assault is the lack of knowledge surrounding survivor self-perceptions post-assault. Current research examining sexual trauma and its impact on identity has been predominantly studies of childhood sexual abuse cases rather than assaults experienced later in life. Some researchers have suggested a potential relationship between sexual assault and identity (including concepts like gender dysphoria), however, more research needs to be done or replicated to solidify their hypothesis (Othman et al., 2020). Gender dysphoria is defined as “A psychiatric classification describing persons experiencing a strong and persistent incongruity between their anatomy (their sex) and the gender with which they identify” (Mathiesen 2024). This incongruity and/or dissonance has been linked to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation (Li et al., 2024; Mueller et al., 2017) Thus, understanding the complexities of sexual trauma and its identity outcomes is crucial in helping survivors of sexual assault and providing clinicians with valuable context and information that can inform therapeutic approaches for their clients. Likewise, survivors of sexual assault can benefit from a better understanding of potential impacts on identity and may provide foundational knowledge to validate their lived experience. This study aims to help fill the gaps in current knowledge surrounding sexual trauma and identity, including the potential development of gender dysphoria, and serve as a foundation for future identity research. While preliminary data suggests a positive correlation between sexual trauma and the potential development of gender dysphoria, recruitment for this study is ongoing with full data being available in February.