Abstract
Trauma-related cognitions have been proposed to contribute significantly to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Recent research suggests that feelings of mental pollution (feelings of dirtiness without physical contact) may also contribute to symptoms of PTSD in victims of sexual assault (Fairbrother & Rachman, 2004). The present study investigated the relation between mental pollution, PTSD cognitions, and PTSD symptoms in victims of sexual assault (N = 48). The results indicated that mental pollution was significantly related to PTSD symptoms even when statistically controlling for symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, subsequent analyses showed that the relation between feelings of mental pollution and PTSD symptoms was fully mediated by trauma-related cognitions. These findings are discussed in the context of a model in which feelings of mental pollution elicit specific negative cognitions that maintain PTSD symptoms in victims of sexual assault.
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