CAUSAL ATTRIBUTIONS AND RECOVERY FROM RAPE AND OTHER STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS

The purposes of this study were (a) to examine a new model of the relations between attributions and long-term recovery among rape survivors and (b) to test the applicability of this model to other life events that differ in terms of controllability (i.e., bereavement and relationship loss). Among rape survivors, both behavioral and characterological self-blame were associated with poorer recovery, as was more often thinking about why the rape occurred; the belief that future assaults are less likely was associated with better recovery; and beliefs about past control were unrelated to beliefs about future control. Self-blame was associated with poorer recovery and perceptions of past and future control were unrelated for both bereavement and relationship loss. The relations between thinking about ''why'' and recovery, and future control appraisals and recovery, differed across events, however. Implications for research and practice are discussed.