Social adjustment in victims of sexual assault.

This study investigated the social adjustment of rape victims for 1 year following their assaults. Ninety-three rape victims were seen approximately 2 weeks after the assault and at 1,2, 4, 8, and 12 months postrape. A matched control group of nonvictims was seen at the same intervals. To control for the effects of repeated testing, three additional groups of victims were assessed only once at either 2, 4, or 8 months postrape. All participants completed a social adjustment scale, which yielded a total adjustment score as well as subscale scores for five areas of adjustment: work; economic; social and leisure; marital, parental, and family unit; and extended family. Victims exhibited disruption in overall social adjustment and most of the subscale roles for the first few months following their assaults. By 4 months postrape, most of the subscales had stabilized at levels similar to the nonvictims'. Work adjustment continued to be affected through 8 months postrape. Single-testing control victims appeared to have more problems in social adjustment, particularly with regard to relationships with relatives.