Latinas’ Experience of Sexual Assault Disclosure

Melissa Villarreal

Interdisciplinary Health Services (BS-IHS) Program, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/psych.2014.510140                

Abstract

This study describes Latina’s experience of sexual assault disclosure. This study contributes Latinas’ voices to the literature on sexual assault disclosure, about feelings experienced during the initial disclosure—regret, shame, and negative judgment of self, and about consequences experienced from the disclosure—feeling spoiled for marriage, silenced, and disbelieved. It points to the need for further research on social interventions to empower Latina sexual assault survivors. Although the literature review identified some research in the area of sexual assault with Latinas, there has been a limited amount of research conducted on feelings and consequences experienced specifically by Latinas during a sexual assault disclosure.

Keywords

Hispanic, Latina, Sexual Assault, Initial Disclosure, Feelings and Consequences

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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