Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies.

Study	Aim	Design	Population	Type of Sexual Violence	Functional Impact	Measure(s)	Stat. Methods	Results
S1 [20]   Frazier P, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2004   DOI: 14756611	Assess correlates of early reports of positive life changes after sexual assault and individual trajectories of self-reported positive change over time	Cohort prospective	N = 171 women, between 16 and 52 years   Recruited from 7 emergency rooms 1-year follow-up (2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months)	Sexual violence	SOCIAL IMPACT Social support     Approach and avoidant coping   Religious coping     Perceived control               Positive life changes	Social Support Scale—2 items Cronbach: 0.81   Coping Strategies Inventory—CSI—Cronbach: 0.91 for approach coping and 0.84 for avoidant coping   Religious coping scale—Cronbach: 0.94   Three scales from the Rape Attribution Questionnaire: Behavioral self-blame—Cronbach: 0.87 Control over recovery—Cronbach: 0.84 Taking precaution—Cronbach: 0.83   14/17 items from 17-item life change scale	Hierarchical linear modeling—HLM	The trajectories of social support, approach coping, religious coping, control over the recovery process and taking precautions were all positively associated with positive-change trajectories, suggesting that increases in these variables were associated with increases in self-reported positive life changes over time
S2 [21]   Ulirsch JC, European Journal of Pain, 2013   DOI: 24019249	Assess the incidence and distribution of pain symptoms and other types of somatic symptoms experienced by women sexual assault survivors	Prospective observational study	N = 84 women, 18 years or older (M = 26 years) Recruited through medical care within 48 h of sexual assault	Sexual assault (vaginal, oral, or anal penetration)   No repeated assault	PHYSICAL IMPACT Evolution of pain at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months   21 somatic symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea, noise sensitivity, concentration difficulties, taking longer to think…)	Numeric rating scale—0 to 10—in 8 body regions         Numeric rating scale	Incidence rates CI 95%           Bonferroni adjusted	Pain reported for: - 1 body region: 58% after 6 weeks and 60% after 3 months - 3 or more body regions: 32% after 6 weeks and 28% after 3 months - More than 10% reported pain in 5 or more body regions Highest prevalence regions: head, neck, back, and abdomen   Association between location of trauma during SA and location of pain after 6 weeks and 3 months   Somatic symptoms at 6 weeks: 38% showed a significant increase in severity Somatic symptoms at 3 months: 52% showed a significant increase in severity
S3 [22]   Golding JM, Research in Nursing & Health, 1996   DOI: 8552801	Hypothesized that sexual assault history is associated with limitations in physical functioning	Prospective observational study	N = 6024 respondents 516 reported a history of sexual assault   52% were female (M = 42 years)	Sexual assault with the sexual assault instrument (62 items)	PHYSICAL IMPACT   Physical symptoms                 Physical functioning	39 items from the somatization section of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Symptoms were scored as positive only if they were severe, which was defined as causing the respondent to use medication other than aspirin or interfering significantly with their life   Number of days spent in bed because of illness   Number of days of restricted activity		Physical symptoms reported in SA vs. control: 67.9 vs. 41.7 (p < 0.001)                 Both bed days and restricted activity days were significantly more common among persons with a history of sexual assault than among those without Number of (SA vs. control): - Bed days 15.9 vs. 10.1 (p = 0.006) - Restricted activity days 18.9 vs. 11.7 (p = 0.002)
S4 [23]   Högbeck I, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 2022   DOI: 34338163	Investigate the effect of sexual assault on sexual function in adult women six months post-assault, as well as the possible correlations between impaired sexual function and assault characteristics, psychiatric morbidity, and post-assault PTSD	Prospective observational study	N = 73 women (M = 24 years) Over 18 years Seen within one month of the index assault in the emergency clinic for rape survivors	Rape or attempted rape (penetration or not)   Sexual assault age: M = 24 years   No information about repeated violence	SEXUAL IMPACT   Sexual function (last 4 weeks)	FEMALE SEXUAL FUNCTION INDEX (38 items measuring sexual function before and after the assault) 26.55 is the optimal cutoff for differentiating women with and without sexual dysfunction   Cronbach coefficient: 0.92 to 0.98	Paired simple t-test   Comparisons use Pearson’s chi-square test	60% estimated their sexual function at six months post-assault as impaired   The mean FSFI total score was lower post-assault compared to pre-assault: 23 vs. 28.7 (p < 0.001)
S5 [24]   Tadayon M, Electronic Physician, 2018   DOI: 29881522	Determine the relationship between sexual performance and sexual satisfaction in those who have experienced violence, so that we can take steps to improve women’s sexual health	Case-control study	N = 35 women aged 15–45 years, married for at least a year, who have been sexually abused and referred to a forensic medical examination unit (M = 28 years)   N = 70 women in control group (M = 29 years)	Sexually abused women referred to a forensic medical examination unit	SEXUAL IMPACT Sexual satisfaction               Sexual performance	Larson Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire—25 items, 5-option Likert scale Dissatisfaction (score under 50), low satisfaction (50–75), moderate satisfaction (75–100), high satisfaction (>100) Cronbach coefficient: >0.7 validated in couple population   Sexual Performance Index Questionnaire—6 subscales including libido, sexual desire, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain—19 questions—scores below 26 considered as impaired performance   Cronbach coefficient: >0.7	Chi-square test, t-test, Fisher’s exact test	Significant difference between the two groups (SA vs. control) in terms of sexual satisfaction: 71.4 vs. 99.44 (p < 0.001)               Significant difference regarding sexual performance (SA vs. control): 17.10 vs. 26.37 (p < 0.001) Statistically significant difference in terms of sexual arousal (decreased in SA), orgasm (id), lubrication (id), pain (increased in SA), and sexual satisfaction (decreased in SA)
S6 [25]   Postma R, Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2013 DOI: 23679151	Investigate the effect of rape on sexual problems and on pelvic floor problems	Cross-sectional study	N = 89 women raped during adolescence (M = 20.9 years)   N = 114 women in the control group (M = 20.8 years)	Rape includes both attempted and completed rape   20% revictimization	SEXUAL IMPACT Sexual functioning             Pelvic floor functioning	Female Sexual Function Index FSFI—cutoff: 26.55 Cronbach coefficient: 0.92 to 0.98           Amsterdam Hyperactive Pelvic Floor Scale-Women 11.00 is the optimal score for differentiating women with and without pelvic floor dysfunction Cronbach coefficient: 0.75 to 0.82	Sample t-test Pearson’s chi-square tests	Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in SA vs. control: 44.6% (N = 25/56) vs. 19.5% (N = 15/77) Significant difference t: rape survivors had a 2.4 times higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction when compared with the control group   More sexual problems for rape survivors: more lubrication problems (D = 0.497, p < 0.001) and more pain (D = 0.695, p < 0.001)   Prevalence of pelvic pain in SA vs. control: 33.7% (N = 30/89) vs. 12.4% (N = 14/113) Significant difference: rape survivors had a 2.7 times higher prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction More significant pelvic floor problems in SA: provoked vulvodynia (p < 0.001), stress (p < 0.001), lower urinary tract symptoms (p < 0.001), and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms (p < 0.001)
S7 [26]     Walker J, British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2005   DOI: 10.1348	Investigate the effects of rape on a non-clinical male sample by comparing them on standard tests with a control group with no prior history of sexual assault	Case-control study	N = 40 male rape survivors (M = 34.2 years) Age of assault: 70% between 16 and 25 years   Control group: 40 men with same characteristics	Sexual assault   No precision	PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT General health             PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT Trust in the future             SOCIAL IMPACT Current self-esteem	General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)—28 items—4-point response scale Cronbach coefficient: 0.85         World Assumptions Scale: People’s basic assumptions about the world in which they live. 32 items—6-point response scale Cronbach coefficient: 0.40 to 0.83     State Self-Esteem Scale—20 items—5-point response scale—Cronbach coefficient: 0.9	Using t-tests p = 0.01	Significantly higher score for the survivors on each GHQ subscale: somatic symptoms: 2.96 p = 0.005 social dysfunction: 4.78 p = 0.001 anxiety/insomnia: 4.62 p = 0.001 depression: 7.06 p = 0.001       No significant difference Only self-worth is lower among the survivors (p = 0.001)               Significantly lower self-esteem scores in the survivors group (58.95 vs. 74.05, p = 0.001) and for each subscale (performance, social appearance)
S8 [27]   Seyller M, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2016   DOI: 10.1097	Compare the consequences of sexual assault based on the relationship between female survivors and their assailant	Prospective observational study	N = 294 women (M = 23 years) separated into 3 groups: G1: intimate partner: 106 (M = 29 years) G2: acquaintance: 100 (M = 20 years) G3: stranger: 88 (M = 21 years)	Sexual assault (vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, attempts, sexual touching)	PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT   General health at 1 month after sexual assault	General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)—28 items—4-point response scale—cutoff point of 4/5 Cronbach coefficient: 0.85	Univariate analyses	Score > 4 points Group 1: 89% Group 2: 93% Group 3: 93% The rates of disturbance of survivors of intimate partner violence are similar to those of other survivors
S9 [28]   Darves-Bornoz JM, European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 1997   DOI: 9550204	Determine whether the General Health Questionnaire, a simple psychological instrument, could be useful to non-specialists in screening for psychologically traumatized rape survivors	Prospective observational study	N = 285 subjects (M = 22.5 years), with 24 men and 261 women Rape survivors attending a consultation for survivors of psychological trauma, within the University Hospital of Tours	Rape (sexual penetration)	PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT   General health—psychological	General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)—28 items—4-point response scale—cutoff point of 4/5 Cronbach coefficient: 0.95	SPSS SYSTAT software	Mean score: 11.7, independent of age, gender 72% had a GHQ score equal to or higher than the threshold set at 4
S10 [29]   Aquino NM, Revista Saúde Pública, 2009   DOI: 19967257	Estimate the prevalence of sexual violence history among pregnant women and its association with the self-perception of health status	Cross-sectional study	N = 179 pregnant women (M = 24 years)	Unconsented sexual contact (penetration or not) and acts of a sexual nature but without physical contact, such as voyeurism or exposure to pornography	QUALITY OF LIFE   Assessment of health-related quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study: Physical and mental functioning	12-Item Short-Form Health Survey—SF-12	A linear regression analysis of variance	Sexual violence survivors showed significantly lower mean physical (42.2) and mental (37.4) scores than women with no history of sexual violence (51, p < 0.001)
S11 [30]   Reyhan Dağ Karataş, Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 2019   DOI: 32307807	Determine factors associated with PTSD among women who had been sexually assaulted by comparing those with and without PTSD	Cross-sectional cohort study	N = 78 women approached at least 1 month after assault (M = 27.53 years) PTSD group: 41 (M = 28 years) Non-PTSD group: 19 (M = 24.9 years)	Rape: none, vaginal, vaginal and/or other   Repeated assault: 39% in PTSD group, 16% in control group	QUALITY OF LIFE	Medical Outcomes Study Short Form—36-item—SF-36 Assess both positive and negative aspects of health status No Cronbach coefficient	The Mann–Whitney U test used for non-normal variables	The PTSD group differs from the group without PTSD with regard to the higher prevalence of other health problems, including a sense of poor general health, low vitality, impaired social function, impaired physical function, impaired physical role, and impaired emotional role
S12 [31]   Gottfried R, Midwifery, 2015   DOI: 26324214	Focuses on the inter-relationships between sexual abuse occurring across the lifespan, distressed female sexual function, and childbirth	Quantitative longitudinal study	N = 300 third term singleton pregnant women (M = 31 years) Sexual abuse: 21%	Sexual abuse: illegal act of forcing another person into any form of sexual activity or contact against their will	SEXUAL IMPACT   Sexual dysfunction             Subjective severity of respondents’ childbirth experience	Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised 13 statements on a 5-point scale—cutoff >10 to discriminate women with/without female sexual dysfunction Cronbach coefficient: 0.96   Subjective Birth Experience Questionnaire—13 items on a 5-point scale Cronbach coefficient: 0.77	Null hypothesis tests, chi-square test, significance, p-value, confidence interval, logistic regression	Women with a history of sexual assault showed approximately twice the prevalence of antenatal/postpartum FSD compared to those without such history             Sexual abuse was not found to be related to a negatively experienced birth
S13 [32]   Holder N, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2022   DOI: 10.1177	Compare profiles of psychosocial outcomes for veteran and non-veteran participants who were exposed to childhood, adult, or military sexual assault	Data from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Research Study	N = 935 non-veteran women and men who reported sexual assault N = 301 non-veteran women and men who reported sexual assault at 18 years or older N = 399 non-veteran women and men who reported childhood sexual assault	Sexual assault: penetration and touching	PHYSICAL IMPACT     Health functioning   Health satisfaction   SOCIAL IMPACT Social functioning   Social satisfaction	Well-Being Inventory       Six items—score range 1 to 5 Cronbach coefficient: 0.72   Three items—score range 1 to 5 Cronbach coefficient: 0.75   Three items—score range 1 to 5 Cronbach coefficient: 0.84 Four items—score range 1 to 5 Cronbach coefficient: 0.80	Z-score comparing between trauma groups	The adult sexual assault group reported worse outcomes than the child sexual assault group: Z-score is higher (so worse) in social satisfaction and functioning and health satisfaction. The score is more or less the same in health functioning   WBI health functioning: 3.47 (0.69) WBI health satisfaction: 3.35 (1.06)         WBI social functioning: 3.46 (0.99) WBI social satisfaction: 3.76 (0.93)