Everyday Sexism and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women A Correlational Study

• Published in: Violence against women Vol. 12; no. 10; pp. 970 - 988
• Main Author: Berg, Susan H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01-10-2006; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Dominance-Subordination; Everyday Life; Female; Females; Hostility; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Middle Aged; New York - epidemiology; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Prejudice; Regression Analysis; Sexism; Social Perception; Stereotyping; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Victims; Women; Women's Health; New York; PTSD; everyday sexism; posttraumatic stress disorder; women
• ISSN: 1077-8012; 1552-8448
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801206293082

This study examined the correlations between everyday (nonviolent) sexism and the development of trauma symptoms in women. A total of 382 women completed a subjective measurement of the experience of sexism, a checklist of gender-based stressors (including acts of violence), a measurement of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a demographic questionnaire. Results indicated a moderately strong relationship between the experience of everyday sexism and PTSD. A stepwise multiple regression revealed that when all variables (test scores, subscale scores, and demographic characteristics) were entered, the most predictive variable for trauma was recent sexist degradation, accounting for 20% of the variance in PTSD scores.