What is a common impact of adult non-stranger sexual assault on a victim?

• A. Inability to trust
• B. Devastating because the act of betrayal is someone trusted or loved.
• C. Victims ask themselves: Who can I tell? Can anyone be trusted? Will anyone believe me?
• D. Increased resilience and social support

Answer: (A)

When the assault comes from someone the survivor knows, the breach is not just a single event but a rupture in the trust that underpins relationships. The person who harmed them was someone they trusted or cared about, so the violation can shake their faith in others and in safety itself. A common consequence is that the survivor starts doubting others’ intentions, finds it hard to open up or get close again, and becomes more cautious or guarded in future relationships. This erosion of trust tends to be a persistent and widespread impact that shapes how they relate to people long after the incident.

It’s true that betrayal by someone trusted can feel devastating and that many survivors wrestle with questions like who to tell and whether anyone will believe them, and some may build resilience with support. Yet the most consistently reported and broadly impactful effect discussed in practice is the challenge to trust others. The option about increased resilience and social support describes a more positive or less typical outcome, which isn’t as universally observed.