Sexual trauma disclosure in a sample of women of color: A qualitative stud

Sexual trauma disclosure may be part of the traumatic event as disclosing details of the trauma and the reactions received from others add to the impact of the sexual trauma. Further research on the sexual trauma disclosure process and its impact on survivors is needed. In this dissertation, disclosure to formal and informal sources was explored. Fifteen women of color survivors of sexual trauma were the participants in the study because of the underrepresentation of this group in prior research and the layered trauma that may occur in this group. The aim of this project was to better and more fully understand the process and impact of sexual trauma disclosure for women of color. A qualitative research design with in-person interviews was used as such a design is best suited to gain a deeper understanding and get at the essence of the lived experience of participants. Data analysis of transcribed interviews revealed themes and patterns in the participants' experiences as described in the interviews (1) disclosure to family and the associated experiences, (2) most common reactions to disclosure, (3) feeling support in disclosure, and (4) a combination of meeting others' needs and meeting their own following sexual trauma. These results as well as future research and clinical implications are discussed.