Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Students Exposed to Sexual Violence: A Network Analysis
Abstract
Background: Gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) is a major public health concern among university students, yet the specific symptom architecture and central drivers of PTSD in this population remain under-researched. This study assessed PTSD severity and identified central symptoms among student victims of GBSV using network analysis.
Methods: Participants (n = 563; 76.9% female; 18–30 years) were drawn from a prospective cohort launched in October 2024 at a French university. GBSV exposure (five types) and PTSD severity (PCL-5) were assessed at baseline (M0) and three-month follow-up (M3). Network analysis was conducted to identify central symptoms (closeness/strength centrality) and edge weights (links between symptoms) across different violence types.
Results: At baseline, 51.7% of participants reported at least one GBSV incident since starting university. PCL-5 scores were significantly higher following sexual assault (36±21) and attempted rape /rape (44±19; p < 0.001). Network analysis identified “intense negative feelings” as the most central symptom for sexual assault, and “loss of interest” for attempted rape /rape. The strongest edge linked hypervigilance to exaggerated startle response in sexual assault victims, while internal and external avoidance were most strongly linked in rape victims. At M3, 30% of initial victims reported revictimization, showing significantly higher PTSD scores than first-time victims (26.4±18.3 vs. 17.8±16.9; p = 0.022).
Conclusions: Students exposed to GBSV carry a significant psychotraumatic burden, worsened by severity and repetition. Network analysis identifies specific symptom clusters that could guide targeted, symptom-specific psychotherapeutic interventions within university health services.
Key messages: • PTSD severity among student victims of GBSV varies by violence type, with attempted rape or rape associated with the highest PCL-5 scores (44±19).
• Network analysis reveals distinct central symptoms (e.g., loss of interest) by violence type, offering a roadmap for targeted, symptom-specific psychological support on university campuses.
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BibTeX
@article{telfils2026posttraumatic,
title = {{Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Students Exposed to Sexual Violence: A Network Analysis}},
author = {R Telfils and AC Bas and MP Tavolacci},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.826},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.826},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Students Exposed to Sexual Violence: A Network Analysis
AU - R Telfils
AU - AC Bas
AU - MP Tavolacci
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.826
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.826
AB - Background: Gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) is a major public health concern among university students, yet the specific symptom architecture and central drivers of PTSD in this population remain under-researched. This study assessed PTSD severity and identified central symptoms among student victims of GBSV using network analysis. Methods: Participants (n = 563; 76.9% female; 18–30 years) were drawn from a prospective cohort launched in October 2024 at a French university. GBSV exposure (five types) and PTSD severity (PCL-5) were assessed at baseline (M0) and three-month follow-up (M3). Network analysis was conducted to identify central symptoms (closeness/strength centrality) and edge weights (links between symptoms) across different violence types. Results: At baseline, 51.7% of participants reported at least one GBSV incident since starting university. PCL-5 scores were significantly higher following sexual assault (36±21) and attempted rape /rape (44±19; p < 0.001). Network analysis identified “intense negative feelings” as the most central symptom for sexual assault, and “loss of interest” for attempted rape /rape. The strongest edge linked hypervigilance to exaggerated startle response in sexual assault victims, while internal and external avoidance were most strongly linked in rape victims. At M3, 30% of initial victims reported revictimization, showing significantly higher PTSD scores than first-time victims (26.4±18.3 vs. 17.8±16.9; p = 0.022). Conclusions: Students exposed to GBSV carry a significant psychotraumatic burden, worsened by severity and repetition. Network analysis identifies specific symptom clusters that could guide targeted, symptom-specific psychotherapeutic interventions within university health services. Key messages: • PTSD severity among student victims of GBSV varies by violence type, with attempted rape or rape associated with the highest PCL-5 scores (44±19). • Network analysis reveals distinct central symptoms (e.g., loss of interest) by violence type, offering a roadmap for targeted, symptom-specific psychological support on university campuses.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -