Author(s)

Elinda de Klerk¹, Ruan Spies¹, Francois van den Berg², Werner de Klerk¹

¹Community Psychosocial Research (COMPRES), Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
²School of Law, Undergraduate Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The literature argues that although there are ample research and studies conducted regarding rape and its physical impact, the mental and psychological effects of rape are often neglected and overlooked. The purpose of this paper is to provide a literature overview (narrative synthesis) of the psychological impact of rape on South African women. Numerous aspects were identified in South African literature: anxiety, depressive symptoms, external stigmatization/ostracism, posttraumatic stress disorder, feelings of worthlessness/shame/guilt, persistent sadness/anger, self-stigmatization/blame, social isolation, social victimization, suicidal thoughts and traumatic dissociation. In conclusion, sexual violence (especially rape of women) is a violation of human rights that cannot be disregarded. It must never be accepted by a culture of silence and impunity, either by the South African or society. It is the legal and social responsibility of every South African to stop sexual violence while at the same time maintaining its wrongfulness and unacceptableness in terms of traditional culture, social values, and the law.

Literature Overview, Psychological Impact, Rape, Sexual Violence, South Africa, Women

de Klerk, E. , Spies, R. , van den Berg, F. and de Klerk, W. (2024) Rape in South Africa: A Narrative Synthesis on the Psychological Impact of Rape on South African Women. Psychology, 15, 1262-1278. doi: 10.4236/psych.2024.158075.