Sexual harassment has stayed in the news recently. Allegations of sexual harassment have been leveled at many celebrities of late to include singer Placido Domingo, and a Yale medical professor. The Philadelphia police commissioner has resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. And, of course, there has been the case of the late Jeffrey Epstein dominating the news. It seems that every week there are stories about prominent individuals accused of such behavior. These are only the more well known individuals. Sexual harassment charges and behaviors occur frequently. The majority of the attention has focused on the alleged perpetrators. But just what are the effects on the victim?

First, let's clarify the range of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can take many forms. Sometimes, it’s just a single sexist comment, an off-color joke, or a comment about how good someone looks. These one time incidents, though annoying, probably won’t have a long term effect on the victim. However, there are some harassment victims who are subjected to humiliation, unwanted advances, inappropriate touching, oft repeated lewd comments, and rape. For these victims, the harassment can take its toll on the person's mental and physical health.

Second, how prevalent is sexual harassment? Most estimates indicate that approximately 33% of women and up to 16% of men have experienced some form of sexual harassment in the workplace. These are lower end estimates. Some surveys have suggested that incidence rates can go as high as 70% for women and 45% for men. Of course, sexual harassment can and does occur in any venue, not just work.

Third, while victims of sexual harassment can experience strained relationships, they are at increased risk for numerous health and psychological effects. Here are some key effects:

1. Negative change in worldview

What are the effects of experiencing street harassment or inappropriate comments at school or in the workplace? What is it like to be groped, ogled, objectified, left to be uncomfortable? Experiences like this are not simply unpleasant at the time, but often inform a woman’s worldview for years to come. They change the way women behave and effect their sense of safety and security in their world. The negative experience continues long after the incident itself in how victims relate to others, plan for events, dress, and view themselves.

2. Depression

Many victims of sexual harassment suffer from chronic, long term depression. They have self doubt, frequently blame themselves, feeling responsible for what happened. I have treated numerous individuals with depression who have histories of sexual harassment and abuse in their backgrounds. They have pent-up hostility, often having been pressured to maintain silence and "not make a big deal of it". They often are accused of being overly sensitive and are re-victimized.

3. Post-traumatic stress disorder

Many studies have found a link between experiences of sexual harassment and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which includes re-experiencing the trauma and avoiding people or things that may remind the victim of the harassment.

4. Blood pressure

In a 2008 study in the journal Social Science Medicine, authors Kriegera, Chena, Waterman, Hartman, Stoddard, Quinn, Sorensen, and Barbeau questioned 1200 Boston union employees about sexual harassment in the workplace and gave them a health exam. Researchers discovered that victims of sexual harassment, 23 percent in all, experienced elevated heart rates and other physiological effects such as stress which can lead to cardiovascular disease. Sexual harassment may trigger the same type of physiological reactions as stress, which is thought to raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. I've written about this link in past posts on stress and cardiovascular effects.

5. Sleep problems

When victims of sexual harassment experience mental and emotional problems, it often leads to such problems as loss of appetite, headaches, weight fluctuations, and sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances can in turn lead to other serious health problems, such as hormonal imbalance, an increased risk of high blood pressure as mentioned above, and a weakened immune system. The sleep problems in part may be because victims experience stress and anxiety and this affects sleep habits.

6. Suicide

Sexual harassment can increase the risk for suicide. This is due to the effects of depression, anxiety, and the changed world view of victims. Studies indicate increased suicidal behavior following sexual assault. However, in surveys up to 15% of women who had experience sexual harassment, including unwanted sexual touching, reported making suicidal attempts within the past six months.

It is clear that sexual harassment has enduring psychological and health effects for many victims. The high incidence of such behaviors necessitates continuing interventions in schools and workplaces. We need as well a fundamental shift in the way we treat women and model appropriate behavior for young men in their relationships with women. For victims of sexual harassment, if you think you are suffering from the effects noted above, reach out and get assistance. There is no need to suffer without help. In our recently published book on the topic of stress (I Can't Take It Anymore: How to Manage Stress so It Doesn't Manage You; Paul G. Longobardi, Ph.D., and Janice B. Longobardi, R.N., B.S.N., P.H.N.), available through Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542458056, we discuss the many aspects of stress in our lives. If you would like more information about the authors and the book, you can go to the book website at www.manageyourhealthandstress.com.

Good luck on your journey.

Dr. Paul Longobardi

For information on these and related topics, please see my website at www.successandmindset.com