Associations Among Online Social Reactions to Disclosure of Sexual Victimization, Coping and Social Isolation

ABSTRACT

Social reactions to the disclosure of sexual victimization are critical to post-assault recovery. The popular social media hashtag “#MeToo” resulted in numerous survivors of sexual victimization disclosing their experience online. Whereas previous research has examined the association between social reactions to in-person disclosure of sexual victimization and factors commonly associated with adjustment among survivors – such as coping and social support – research is needed to examine correlates of social reactions to online disclosure of sexual victimization. Accordingly, the current study investigated the relationship between online social reactions to the disclosure of sexual victimization via #MeToo and engagement in various coping strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping) and social isolation among a sample of 195 adults with a history of sexual victimization. Results indicated that the provision of online resources was associated with lower use of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Receipt of online emotional and informational support was associated with increased use of emotion-focused coping strategies. Further, receipt of online social reactions that turned against the survivor and receipt of online social reactions that “made fun of you, insulted you, or said something to hurt you” were associated with higher levels of social isolation. Lastly, online unsupportive acknowledgment and “sharing your tweet with other people” were associated with lower levels of social isolation. Results highlight how online social reactions to disclosure of sexual victimization via #MeToo intersect with coping and social support among survivors of sexual victimization and help to give context to the experience of online disclosure of sexual victimization.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual victimization
• rape
• coping
• disclosure
• social reactions
• online disclosure
• #MeToo

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Correction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2024.2340162)

Additional information

Funding

Authors’ effort on this publication was supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse Award Number [K99DA057993] (PI: Bhuptani) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Award Numbers [K99AA030079] (PI: López).The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request.

Notes on contributors

Prachi H. Bhuptani

Prachi H. Bhuptani, Ph.D. is a post-doctoral research associate at Rhode Island Hospital. Her research focuses on the investigation of ecological factors and processes underlying experiences of shame following sexual victimization. Additionally, her work also focused involves examining the impact of shame on the psychological well-being of survivors.

Gabriela López

Gabriela López, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on reducing mental health disparities among sexual and racial/ethnic minority women with histories of sexual assault. She is currently an Investigator at the Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies at Brown University’s School of Public Health. Dr. López received her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2020 from the University of New Mexico. She completed her residency in Adult Psychology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Roselyn Peterson

Roselyn Peterson, M.S. is a graduate student at the University of Central Florida. She is completing her residency in Adult Psychology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Her long-term research interests involve investigating college students’ alcohol use behaviors, protective behavioral strategies concerning alcohol use, and experiences and decisions made while drinking alcohol. She is interested in the extent to which protective behavioral strategies may mitigate regretted sexual experiences, sexual assault, and risky sex.

Lindsay M. Orchowski

Lindsay M. Orchowski, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor (Research) at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, within the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. She is a Staff Psychologist with Lifespan Physicians Group at Rhode Island Hospital within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Her research program centers around the development and evaluation of sexual assault prevention programs.