Women’s mental health outcomes following sexual violence in mid-adulthood: an analysis of data from the Australian longitudinal study of women’s health

Sexual violence (SV) is a widespread public health issue associated with numerous detrimental mental health outcomes for survivors. However, little is known about psychological outcomes or protective factors for women who first experience SV in mid-adulthood. Dispositional optimism is one factor that may help to mitigate negative impacts for survivors. The current study utilised data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health to investigate the impact of SV on mental health outcomes for middle-aged Australian women, compared with peers who reported never experiencing SV. We also assessed whether optimism is a protective factor for psychological outcomes following SV. Contrary to expectations, mental health outcomes did not change in the short-term following participants’ first reported SV and largely improved in the long-term, whilst the comparison sample demonstrated improved mental health across time. Among those who reported experiencing SV, higher optimism prior to SV predicted improved long-term depression but was not significantly related to any other mental health outcome. Hence, women who first experience SV in mid-adulthood experience a different trajectory of psychological outcomes over time compared with those who do not experience SV. Moreover, optimism should be considered as a potential protective factor for mental health outcomes following SV.