Does Labeling a Nonconsensual Sexual Experience as Rape Facilitate Recovery? A Systematic Review of the Associations Between Rape Acknowledgment and Mental Health

Many individuals who have experienced behaviors that legally qualify as rape do not "acknowledge" them (or label them) as such. Although the prevalence of and barriers surrounding rape acknowledgment have been substantially researched, its associations with victims' recovery remain less understood. This systematic review aims to (a) critically assess the methodology used to study the associations between rape acknowledgment and mental health outcomes; (b) explore how rape acknowledgment is associated with mental health outcomes; and (c) identify variables that may influence or explain these associations (e.g., moderators, mediators, and confounders). Three electronic databases (PsycNet, PubMed, and Scopus) were systematically screened following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies written in English and published between 1985 and May 2023 were included if they met the following criteria: (a) employed a quantitative design; (b) assessed rape acknowledgment; (c) assessed psychological distress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; (d) involved adult participants; and (e) presented original data. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies primarily focused on the experiences of White undergraduate cisgender women. In most studies, unacknowledged victims reported lower or similar levels of psychological distress or PTSD symptoms compared to acknowledged victims. In some cases, a significant association between rape acknowledgment and psychological distress or PTSD symptoms became nonsignificant after accounting for other variables. Although rape acknowledgment is crucial from a societal standpoint, these findings challenge the assumption that acknowledging a nonconsensual sexual experience as rape inherently facilitates recovery. Instead, rape characteristics and meaning attributions may play a more significant role.