Sexual Harassment, Assault Negatively Impact Women’s Health

Women who are sexually harassed or assaulted face higher risks of poorer mental health and sleep quality as well as elevated blood pressure, researchers suggest 

The study authors, whose work was published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed 304 healthy (no clinical cardiovascular disease), nonsmoking women aged between 40 and 60 years old (mean age, 54.05 years), of whom 19% (n = 58) were sexually harassed at work and 22% (n = 67) reported a history of sexual assault (n = 67). Ten percent of participants (n = 30) said they had been both harassed and assaulted.  

During #KavanaughHearings, Dr. Ford talked about dealing with PTSD & claustrophobia for years. Turns out the experience she describes is not unusual. #sexualassault and #sexualharassment can affect women’s physical & mental health for years, study shows https://t.co/QtK3ShosxR

— Aneri Pattani (@aneripattani) October 3, 2018

Considering covariates, women who were sexually harassed were more than twice as likely to have stage 1 or 2 hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% CI, 1.10-5.06; P = 0.03); they were also more likely to have insomnia (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.05-3.42; P = 0.03). 

The case for routine enquiry is supported by this study showing the -ve health impact later in life of earlier sexual assault and harassment. @janehmul @Hetheringtonk78 @katesilverton1 @ACEAwareNation https://t.co/EB9RIVan7f

— Dr Warren Larkin (@warren_larkin) October 3, 2018

Women who were sexually assaulted were more than twice as likely to have elevated depressive symptoms (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.42-5.77; multivariable P = 0.003), anxiety (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.26-4.06; multivariable P = 0.006), and poor sleep (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.23-3.77; multivariable P = 0.007). 

Association of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault With Midlife Women’s Mental and Physical Health

Thurston et al, 2018 #SDoH #PDoH https://t.co/1Xa0bRMMgn pic.twitter.com/4uQVoLkMnK

— Brian Rahmer (@brianrahmer) October 4, 2018

The study authors concluded: “Future work should consider whether preventing or mitigating sexual harassment and sexual assault can improve women’s mental and cardiovascular health. Given the high prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, addressing these prevalent and potent social exposures may be critical to promoting health and preventing disease in women.” 

Sexual harassment and assault affects women’s psychological and physical health later in life: https://t.co/qB39PRZsMm pic.twitter.com/LTGRnsSBp4

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 4, 2018

Achieving just outcomes: forensic evidence collection in emergency department sexual assault cases 

Source: JAMA Internal Medicine