The Impact of Sexual Violence on the Sexual Well-Being of Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault
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Authors
McKibbon, Chelsea
Issue Date
2025-12-15
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
sexual assault , sexual violence , sexual well-being , psychotherapy , mental health
Alternative Title
Abstract
This literature review seeks to answer the question: how does sexual violence impact sexual well-being in survivors of sexual assault? Sexual assault has wide-reaching impacts on sexual well-being, and it is important for clinicians to know how to best support this population (Dworkin et al., 2017). Despite its pervasiveness, research on sexual well-being of survivors of sexual violence is limited by inconsistent definitions and emphasis on biological outcomes of sexual health (Mitchell et al., 2021; Pulverman et al., 2018). This paper will review and synthesize recent literature findings which explore this question, and summarize the themes derived from recent studies. From doing so, additional clinical implications and therapeutic recommendations will be explored as they are currently suggested in the literature. Relevant studies were collected from various databases, including the City University library, Google Scholar, and ProQuest. A review of the literature generated significant themes through thematic analysis, and examined key studies for methodological strengths and limitations. Significant findings from this thematic analysis note that the intersection of biological, social, and psychological impacts can impair sexual well-being in a myriad of ways. Recent literature explores behavioural responses to sexual trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and cognitive and affective components of sexual well-being. Through this review, it is clear that there is a paucity of research on the positive and affective components of sexual well-being, such as sexual self-determination, agency, safety, trust, and pleasure. Clinicians can help support survivors of sexual assault through awareness of the intersections of biological, psychological, and social impacts which impair sexual well-being, providing psychoeducation, and engaging in the supported interventions for addressing sexual concerns in survivors of sexual assault.