Having Your Day in Court: The Psychological Impact of Sexual Harassment Litigation

Abstract

Overall, results suggest that, although litigation does appear to play some role, it is the harassment-related factors (e.g., retaliation and objectively severe harassment), as well as individual differences (e.g., affect and employment at the firm while engaged in litigation) in vulnerability and resilience that are the main influences on complainant outcomes. Further, it appears that at least for PTSD symptomology, litigation did not cause harm; rather it appears to have exacerbated or perpetuated litigants' symptomology developed as a result of the harassment. Theoretical and practical implications for the role of litigation as well as other stimulus and individual variables in predicting harm are discussed.