To Talk About It or Not to Talk About It? Social Sharing and the Effects on Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes of Street Harassment

Brain Sci. 2026 Jan 25;16(2):129. doi: 10.3390/brainsci16020129.

ABSTRACT

Background. One of the most common forms of gender-based violence is street harassment, which takes place in public and is usually perpetrated by people who are strangers to the victim. Its diffusion may be a result of its widespread tolerance, and victims often do not protest, denounce, or talk about it with others. Objectives. The aim of the present study is to examine social sharing of street harassment episodes between exposure and its mediating effects on negative psychological consequences and behavioral changes for the harassed person. Methods. Respondents to an online questionnaire (N = 530, 435 F, 8 nonbinary) were asked whether or not they had talked to anyone about their harassment experiences, who they had talked to if they had, and the reasons for not doing so if they had not. Results. The results show that one third of our respondents do not report to anyone because the episode was not considered serious, the victim felt ashamed or embarrassed, or believed that nothing would be done; however, this downsizing is associated with increased negative consequences. The relationships between exposure and negative psychological consequences and behavioral changes are partially mediated by the decision not to talk about it. A smaller but still significant mediation shows that the direct relationship between exposure and subsequent behavioral changes is attenuated by talking, while no negative psychological consequences from talking on are observed. Conclusions. The implications of these findings suggest that sharing about experiences of harassment can mitigate its negative effects on victims’ quality of life, and people should be encouraged to share and formally report the episodes.

PMID:41750130 | DOI:10.3390/brainsci16020129