Negative life events play an etiological role in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Social support and disclosure are associated with resilience following negative events. This secondary analysis examined the relationship between disclosure to specific individuals following negative events and current depression and PTSD symptom severity. Female-identifying undergraduate students (N = 101) were asked to describe "the most negative event" they experienced in the past year and identify individuals to whom they disclosed (e.g. friend, partner, parent, therapist, law enforcement, teacher, and university employee). Using path analyses, I examined whether: 1) for female-identifying undergraduates (n = 89), the identity of the individual to whom participants disclosed their negative memory was correlated with current severity of depression symptoms (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms) and 2) for those who experienced a DSM Criterion A trauma (n = 12), identity of the individual to whom participants disclosed the event was correlated with current PTSD symptom severity (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale). Disclosure of negative events to professionals (law enforcement, teachers, university employees, and therapists) were associated, at a trend level, with higher depression severity (B = .56, p = .07); driven by an effect of disclosing to a therapist (B = .96, p = .04), while no strong association was found for disclosure to personal confidantes (friends, parents, and partners). Disclosure of Criterion A traumatic events to partners was associated with higher depression (B = 1.33, p = .07). These findings complicate literature on the mental health correlates of disclosure, which may be associated with increased depression and PTSD symptom severity following negative events, and emphasize the need for trauma-informed care for mandated reporters and others working with individuals who may disclose negative events. 

Sexual assault is pervasive (1 in 4 women experience assault in their lifetime; RAINN, 2019) and holds the highest risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of any type of traumatic event. However, Asian women are underrepresented in media representations and research regarding the prevalence of assault and the etiology of PTSD. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequencies of lifetime occurrences of sexual harassment, unwanted sexual touching, and penetrative sexual assault (i.e., rape) in Asian women and compare these rates to their white peers. College-aged women (N = 201) completed an online version of the Sexual Experiences Survey - Victimization (SES-SFV). 60.86% of Asian and 74.65% of white women reported experiencing sexual harassment, 28.70% of Asian and 39.43% of white women reported experiencing unwanted sexual touching, and 20.00% of Asian and 21.13% of white women reported experiencing rape. Three independent samples t-tests compared rates of sexual harassment, unwanted sexual touching and rape in white women (n = 69) compared to Asian women (n = 101). Results showed no significant differences between occurrences of sexual harassment and rape. However, white women (M = .75, SD = .43) experienced significantly more unwanted sexual touching compared to Asian women (M = .57, SD = .50), t(168) = -2.4, p = .016. These findings indicate that Asian women encounter similar rates of sexual harassment and rape compared to white women. The parity found between Asian women and white women is underrepresented in media and research and may have negative consequences on the believability of and support for Asian women who have experienced harassment or rape. Further research is necessary to understand the unique mental and physical health impact of sexual assault on Asian women.