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Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders and Disasters

(PS10-1) You’re smarter than this Unhelpful Experiences of Help-Seeking Among BIPOC Sexual Assault Survivors

Sunday, November 23, 2025
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST
Location: Elite Hall A, Level 1
Abstract Text: Sexual violence victimization among young adults is a significant public health concern, with many survivors experiencing long-term negative physical and psychological health consequences. While accumulating research has found that poor responses to survivors’ disclosure and help-seeking efforts can increase risk of these concerning outcomes, the majority of this research has been done with primarily white, college student women. Rates of help-seeking among survivors is low, particularly among minoritized women. The current study examined the unique experiences of help-seeking in a national sample of BIPOC female-identifying sexual assault survivors. Qualitative responses were reviewed from female-identifying, BIPOC individuals between 18-30 years old who endorsed a history of sexual assault on standardized measures. These participants were part of a larger online survey study on minority women’s experiences of barriers to help seeking, experiences of violence, and emotion regulation. For this analysis participants were asked to respond to the following question, “Tell us about a time when you talked to someone about this and it was not helpful. What was not helpful about it?” Of the 150 participants in this analysis, 32% (N=48) identified as Black/African American, 22% (N=33) as Asian, .01% (N=1) as Native American or Alaskan Native, 19% (N=29) as Multiracial, and 19% (N=29) as Hispanic/Latinx.  Thematic analysis of our results suggests survivors prefer informal support, such as friends and family after experiences of interpersonal violence; however, 23% (N=35) stated they did not tell anyone. While 13% (N=19) indicated they had only positive experiences of help-seeking; themes of unhelpful experiences included poor active listening from helper, disbelief, minimization, victim blaming, inadequate follow-up support, unrealistic advice, helper defending perpetrator, negative emotions, and helper seeming biased against perpetrator.  Findings replicate previous research showing that survivors often seek help from family and friends. Intervention implications including guidance on development of validating, affirming and culturally sensitive approaches to supporting survivors of interpersonal violence and those they seek help from will be discussed.