Personality traits, depression and coping strategies among Female victims of sexual violence in Goma (Province of North-Kivu/DRC)

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality traits, depression and coping strategies among sexual violence victims. A quantitative approach and a correlational research design were used in this study. A sample size of 76 females sexually abused within Kyshero and Heal Africa hospitals was obtained using the sample random sampling technique. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 and the Pearson product moment correlation (r) was used to test the hypotheses. Results indicated that only two personality traits, extraversion and neuroticism, were all significantly related to depression. The results further show that there was a significant negative relationship only between neuroticism and coping strategies and that there was a relationship between depression and coping strategies. The study concluded that sexual violence victims with neurotic personality traits are prone to depression whereas those who are extraverted are less exposed to it. Furthermore, the victims with neurotic personality traits are less likely to cope with the abuse. Lastly, the study concluded that the more the victims are depressed, the less they cope with the abuse. Thus, this study recommends that while providing psychosocial support to victims of sexual violence, the individual’s personality trait should be taken into consideration as this relates to how the individual will cope.