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Simple, low-cost tools — a short video and supportive daily texts — may help sexual assault survivors manage acute stress and pain in the critical weeks after an assault. A pilot trial found that women who watched a 17-minute skills-based video reported significantly less acute stress and pain at one week compared to those who received standard care. Researchers say early intervention could be key to preventing long-term PTSD.
A new pilot study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that brief, affordable digital interventions can meaningfully reduce acute stress and pain in women shortly after surviving a sexual assault. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison tested two tools: a 17-minute video called STAR (Skills Training in Affective Recovery) and a 3-week daily text program called TextSTAR, both designed to teach evidence-based coping strategies and provide social support.
In a randomized trial of 50 women who had undergone a medical forensic exam within the prior week, those who watched the video showed notably lower rates of acute stress symptoms and reported less pain at the one-week mark. Women who later received the daily texts also reported less pain at four weeks — even though neither intervention directly targeted pain.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With over 1 in 2 U.S. women experiencing sexual assault in their lifetime and most never receiving post-assault mental health care, scalable, low-cost tools like these could fill a critical gap — potentially preventing the onset of chronic PTSD, pain, and substance use.
