Salcioglu, EbruKuzgun, Tubanur BayramSimsek, Omer Faruk2026-01-302026-01-3020241046-13101046-13101936-4733https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05380-9https://acikerisim2.beykoz.edu.tr/handle/123456789/209Salcioglu, Ebru/0000-0003-2235-6430; Bayram Kuzgun, Tubanur/0000-0002-0299-7284; Şimşek, Ömer Faruk/0000-0002-6113-7057Peri- and post-trauma emotional and cognitive reactions play a pivotal role in PTSD. Illuminating the complex relationship among them necessitates a sound theoretical and statistical approach that ensures valid measurement and theory testing. Taking such an approach this study examined the relationships among peri-trauma sense of control and emotional reactions, post-trauma fear, helplessness, shame and guilt responses, and PTSD in 601 women with a history of perceived sexual trauma exposure. Participants completed an online survey involving reliable and valid measures of perceived severity of sexual trauma, post-trauma fear due to a sense of ongoing threat to safety, and sense of helplessness in life, trauma-related shame, and guilt cognitions. A theoretical model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The measurement and structural models provided a good fit to the data. Levels of sense of control during trauma predicted peri-trauma distress levels. Peri-trauma emotions had direct effects on post-trauma fear, helplessness, and shame, but not on guilt cognitions. Fear, sense of helplessness, and shame had direct effects on PTSD and mediated the association between peri-trauma emotions and PTSD. Although guilt cognitions had direct effects on PTSD, they were not mediators. These findings suggested that peri-trauma emotions play a role in PTSD as long as they induce chronic fear for safety, a sense of helplessness in life, and shame. Trauma-focused psychological interventions designed to overcome fear and shame, reduce helplessness, and restore a sense of control over one's life would be effective in improving PTSD in survivors of sexual violence.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessSexual ViolencePeri-Trauma EmotionsSense of ControlFearShameGuiltArticle10.1007/s12144-023-05380-92-s2.0-85176084719