Mental Health, Shame, and Resilience: A Study of Victims and Non-victims of Nonconsensual Intimate Image Sharing

Nonconsensual intimate image sharing (NCIIS) is a type of online violence that happens through Information and communication technologies. The consequences of NCIIS cause great suffering to victims. Some studies indicate that symptoms are alleviated in resilient victims. This quantitative study aims to analyze the relationship between NCIIS and shame, symptomatology, and resilience in adults’ lives, to compare the group of victims with non-victims of NCIIS concerning those variables, and to analyze the predictors of shame. The sample comprises 220 Portuguese participants aged 18 to 62 years (M = 24.9, SD = 6.58). About 38.2% of the participants are victims of NCIIS. Participants responded to the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Resilience Scale-10 (RS-10). The results indicate statistically significant positive correlations between the IES-R and the BSI, and statistically significant negative correlations between the RS-10 and all IES-R and BSI subscales. Victims of NCIIS show higher rates of shame and symptomatology and less resilience. NCIIS victimization, sex, and BSI significantly predict shame. Victims of NCIIS suffer several mental health consequences, and it is crucial to establish prevention plans, considering the impact of this victimization.