CGH Medical Center issued the following announcement on Oct. 24.
Sexual harassment and assault are in the news a lot lately. That's in large part thanks to the #MeToo movement. But one thing we don't often hear about is how the experiences many women face may also affect their health.
A recent study looked at just that. And it suggests that being sexually harassed or assaulted could influence a woman's mental and physical well-being for years to come.
Prevalent and painful
Researchers looked at data on 304 women ages 40 to 60. They found that 19 percent of them had been sexually harassed at work, 22 percent had been sexually assaulted, and 10 percent experienced both. Nationwide, the rates are even worse: An estimated 40 to 75 percent of women have experienced workplace sexual harassment, and more than 1 in 3 have experienced sexual assault, according to previous research.
The authors of the current study also looked at health problems. Compared to those who had not been sexually harassed or assaulted:
Sexually harassed women were more likely to have higher blood pressure and insomnia.
Women who'd been sexually assaulted were more likely to have symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia. In fact, their risk of depression was nearly three times higher. And their risk of anxiety was nearly two times higher.
A curious finding
Women who'd been sexually harassed in the workplace were more likely to be college educated. And yet they tended to have more financial strain in their lives. Researchers put forth a few possible explanations. For instance, it could be that financially strained women lack the means to leave an abusive work setting.
As to why more highly educated women appeared to be harassed more often, the researchers also had theories. One is that these women tend to work in male-dominated fields. They also may be more likely to report sexual misconduct because they are more likely to recognize it. What's more, they may be seen as threatening to some men, and those men may try to assert power over these women through sexual harassment, the researchers suggest.
Talk to your doctor
It's a good idea to tell your doctor if you've ever been sexually harassed or assaulted, if you feel comfortable doing so. Your experiences can affect your health.
The study was presented at the North American Menopause Society's yearly meeting. The findings also appear in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Original source can be found here.
Source: CGH Medical Center
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