Essa tese investigou o contexto da revelação e notificação do abuso sexual a partir da perspectiva de mães e de adolescentes vítimas e foi organizada em um estudo teórico e quatro estudos empíricos qualitativos. Para a realização dessa pesquisa foram entrevistadas 27 mães de meninas vítimas de abuso sexual e três adolescentes vítimas. O primeiro estudo empírico explorou a percepção das mães sobre a revelação do abuso sexual de suas filhas, identificando três momentos distintos e dinâmicos: antecendentes; revelação propriamente dita; e repercussões da revelação. O segundo estudo analisou o contexto da notificação do abuso sexual. Foi possível identificar o fluxo e instituições acionadas pelas mães, bem como a percepção sobre a qualidade do atendimento recebido e suas expectativas em relação ao sistema de justiça. O terceiro estudo investigou as percepções, sentimentos e expectativas de uma mãe e de sua filha adolescente sobre o contexto processual-penal. A discussão dos resultados reforça a importância de uma adequação do procedimento judicial às necessidades das crianças e adolescentes. O quarto estudo explorou as interações de duas díades mães/filhas, buscando uma compreensão longitudinal. Foi observado que a relação mães/filhas se mostrou fundamental para o enfrentamento da situação vivenciada, proporcionando segurança e estabilidade. As conclusões apontam a importância da figura da mãe nos casos de abuso sexual, revelando a importância de um acompanhamento social e psicológico e a necessidade de ações de proteção voltadas não só à criança, mas também aos seus familiares. / This doctoral dissertation investigated the context of disclosure and reporting of sexual abuse from the perspective of mothers and adolescent victims and was organized in one theoretical and four empirical qualitative studies. For this research, 27 mothers of sexually abused girls and three female adolescence victims were interviewed. The first empirical study explored the mothers’ perceptions about disclosure of sexual abuse of their daughters, identifying three distinct and dynamic moments: antecedents, revelation itself and the consequences of disclosure. The second study explored the reporting of sexual abuse. It was possible to identify the institutions contacted by these mothers, as well as perception on the quality of care received and their the expectations of the justice system. The third study investigated the perceptions, feelings and expectations of the mother and her daughter about criminal-procedural context. The discussion of results reinforces the importance of adequacy of legal proceedings to the needs of children and adolescents. The fourth study explored the interactions of two dyads of mothers and daughters, seeking a longitudinal understanding. It was reported that mothers-daughters relationship has been very important to cope with the situation experienced, providing security and stability. The conclusions indicate the importance of the mother figure in cases of sexual abuse, revealing the importance of social and psychological treatment and the need for protective actions not only for children but also for their families.

Essa tese investigou o contexto da revelação e notificação do abuso sexual a partir da perspectiva de mães e de adolescentes vítimas e foi organizada em um estudo teórico e quatro estudos empíricos qualitativos. Para a realização dessa pesquisa foram entrevistadas 27 mães de meninas vítimas de abuso sexual e três adolescentes vítimas. O primeiro estudo empírico explorou a percepção das mães sobre a revelação do abuso sexual de suas filhas, identificando três momentos distintos e dinâmicos: antecendentes; revelação propriamente dita; e repercussões da revelação. O segundo estudo analisou o contexto da notificação do abuso sexual. Foi possível identificar o fluxo e instituições acionadas pelas mães, bem como a percepção sobre a qualidade do atendimento recebido e suas expectativas em relação ao sistema de justiça. O terceiro estudo investigou as percepções, sentimentos e expectativas de uma mãe e de sua filha adolescente sobre o contexto processual-penal. A discussão dos resultados reforça a importância de uma adequação do procedimento judicial às necessidades das crianças e adolescentes. O quarto estudo explorou as interações de duas díades mães/filhas, buscando uma compreensão longitudinal. Foi observado que a relação mães/filhas se mostrou fundamental para o enfrentamento da situação vivenciada, proporcionando segurança e estabilidade. As conclusões apontam a importância da figura da mãe nos casos de abuso sexual, revelando a importância de um acompanhamento social e psicológico e a necessidade de ações de proteção voltadas não só à criança, mas também aos seus familiares. / This doctoral dissertation investigated the context of disclosure and reporting of sexual abuse from the perspective of mothers and adolescent victims and was organized in one theoretical and four empirical qualitative studies. For this research, 27 mothers of sexually abused girls and three female adolescence victims were interviewed. The first empirical study explored the mothers’ perceptions about disclosure of sexual abuse of their daughters, identifying three distinct and dynamic moments: antecedents, revelation itself and the consequences of disclosure. The second study explored the reporting of sexual abuse. It was possible to identify the institutions contacted by these mothers, as well as perception on the quality of care received and their the expectations of the justice system. The third study investigated the perceptions, feelings and expectations of the mother and her daughter about criminal-procedural context. The discussion of results reinforces the importance of adequacy of legal proceedings to the needs of children and adolescents. The fourth study explored the interactions of two dyads of mothers and daughters, seeking a longitudinal understanding. It was reported that mothers-daughters relationship has been very important to cope with the situation experienced, providing security and stability. The conclusions indicate the importance of the mother figure in cases of sexual abuse, revealing the importance of social and psychological treatment and the need for protective actions not only for children but also for their families.

Essa tese investigou o contexto da revelação e notificação do abuso sexual a partir da perspectiva de mães e de adolescentes vítimas e foi organizada em um estudo teórico e quatro estudos empíricos qualitativos. Para a realização dessa pesquisa foram entrevistadas 27 mães de meninas vítimas de abuso sexual e três adolescentes vítimas. O primeiro estudo empírico explorou a percepção das mães sobre a revelação do abuso sexual de suas filhas, identificando três momentos distintos e dinâmicos: antecendentes; revelação propriamente dita; e repercussões da revelação. O segundo estudo analisou o contexto da notificação do abuso sexual. Foi possível identificar o fluxo e instituições acionadas pelas mães, bem como a percepção sobre a qualidade do atendimento recebido e suas expectativas em relação ao sistema de justiça. O terceiro estudo investigou as percepções, sentimentos e expectativas de uma mãe e de sua filha adolescente sobre o contexto processual-penal. A discussão dos resultados reforça a importância de uma adequação do procedimento judicial às necessidades das crianças e adolescentes. O quarto estudo explorou as interações de duas díades mães/filhas, buscando uma compreensão longitudinal. Foi observado que a relação mães/filhas se mostrou fundamental para o enfrentamento da situação vivenciada, proporcionando segurança e estabilidade. As conclusões apontam a importância da figura da mãe nos casos de abuso sexual, revelando a importância de um acompanhamento social e psicológico e a necessidade de ações de proteção voltadas não só à criança, mas também aos seus familiares. / This doctoral dissertation investigated the context of disclosure and reporting of sexual abuse from the perspective of mothers and adolescent victims and was organized in one theoretical and four empirical qualitative studies. For this research, 27 mothers of sexually abused girls and three female adolescence victims were interviewed. The first empirical study explored the mothers’ perceptions about disclosure of sexual abuse of their daughters, identifying three distinct and dynamic moments: antecedents, revelation itself and the consequences of disclosure. The second study explored the reporting of sexual abuse. It was possible to identify the institutions contacted by these mothers, as well as perception on the quality of care received and their the expectations of the justice system. The third study investigated the perceptions, feelings and expectations of the mother and her daughter about criminal-procedural context. The discussion of results reinforces the importance of adequacy of legal proceedings to the needs of children and adolescents. The fourth study explored the interactions of two dyads of mothers and daughters, seeking a longitudinal understanding. It was reported that mothers-daughters relationship has been very important to cope with the situation experienced, providing security and stability. The conclusions indicate the importance of the mother figure in cases of sexual abuse, revealing the importance of social and psychological treatment and the need for protective actions not only for children but also for their families.

The incidence of both childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders is rising. A study of 422 undergraduate college females was undertaken using self report format to determine the incidence of childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders in a college population, and to determine the relationship between the two. In all, 57% of the women surveyed reported experiencing some form of sexual contact before the age of 14. Using the EDI-2 to assess risk of eating disorder development, 42% of these formerly abused women were found to be at risk for the development of an eating disorder. This was not found to be statistically different from the risk of eating disorder development experienced by the nonabused females in this population. However, there were differences found on the dimensions of Interpersonal Distrust, Interoceptive Awareness and Ineffectiveness, indicating that two of the major issues in eating disorder development for the abused women are trust both of themselves and of others, and self-esteem.

Child sexual abuse is a worldwide problem throughout the history of mankind. Under the influence of Freud in the 1890’s, an impression was established that claims of sexual abuse were the result of hysterical symptoms in women. His theory of the oedipus complex, depicted girls as fantasizing about sexual attention of their fathers. Children were blamed for their own sexual abuse. In the 1960’s, activists for children’s rights brought the plight of children to the foreground. Despite the fact that child sexual abuse is declared as a crime today, in the public opinion children are not beyond suspicion of having initiated or contributed to their own sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse ravages childhood. The effect of sexual abuse on children and their families can not be underestimated. Child sexual abuse affects the child, the parents of the child, and the support system of the child by intense feelings of guilt, anger, blame and mistrust associated with the abuse. Role confusion and transgression of interpersonal boundaries before, during, and after the sexual abuse might occur in families affected by child sexual abuse. It is indicated that the victim, parents and the family system need to undergo a healings process after the ordeal of child sexual abuse. Even though professionals agree that sexual abuse of children has an initial and a long-term negative impact on a person’s life, the cause of this harm is not always agreed on. It appears if harm to the child is caused by the incident of the sexual abuse itself, as well as through the reaction of important others to the abused child. In this study, the researcher explored through a qualitative, applied study, the experiences of adolescents’ of the parental reaction after child sexual abuse. During the literature review, the researcher found that children might hesitate to disclose their sexual abuse to adults as a result of fear. Some children fear that adults will not believe them, blame them for being abused or they fear to cause harm to the family system by the disclosure. Empirical evidence in this study added the observation that children also might not disclose their abuse to parents because they could fear possible parental anger violently expressed towards the offender after disclosure. For the respondents this might lead to the removal of the parent out of the family system, and would implicate according to them, the breaking up of the known family system. Empirical evidence in this study confirms the opinion of literature that the way in which the parental structure responds to the sexual abuse of the adolescent, may be of major importance in predicting the adolescents’ ability to come to terms with the experience. Parents not validating the incident and conjugating effect of child sexual abuse on their child, might cause re-traumatization of the child and they could have a severe negative impact on the healing process of the child. As time goes by, parents might alter their negative response to the disclosure of the abuse, but respondents in this study were not always able to accept or benefit from the changed parental reaction. / Dissertation (MSD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a societal problem whose origins date back to the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is found in all levels of society, from the wealthiest to the poorest; and the short-term and long-term impacts it has on the lives of the victims, can be devastating. There are many reasons for the occurrence of child sexual abuse, but in all cases, the ultimate accountability rests on the shoulders of the sexual offender. The nature of child sexual victimisation varies from verbal suggestions to violent physical force. Irrespective of which type the child is being subjected to, as the weaker partner in the pedagogical relationship with the adult, s/he is never able to defend herself/himself. The global phenomenon, and the increase in CSA, has given rise to the research question, namely: How does child sexual abuse impact on the school life experiences and academic performance of learners at school? The purpose of this research study was to provide insight into the following issues: • The nature and identification of the symptoms of child sexual abuse; • The manner in which sexually abused children manifest their experiences of sexual abuse at school; • How sexually abused children cope with their learning tasks; and • Recommendations for educators. The literature relating to CSA was reviewed, with the aim of establishing a solid theoretical foundation for the study. CSA has been looked at holistically, encompassing the accepted definitions, the related concepts, the nature of sexual abuse, the prevalence and incidence of CSA, the possible causes, the short-term and long-term impacts, and the suggestions by adult survivors for use by educators in their efforts to help abused learners. 11 In an attempt to provide acceptable answers to the research problem, a mixed- method research design was implemented. The research study was conducted in two phases: Stage 1 consisted of an exploration of the research problem by means of the following question put to the participants: In your experience as an adult survivor of child sexual abuse how did the abuse impact on your school life experiences, including your academic performance? A total of nineteen participants from the Eastern Cape Province shared their experiences, by means of writing their life story as a narrative. Purposive and availability sampling of adult survivors was undertaken. In order to ensure the trustworthiness and authenticity of the research methodology, Guba’s model of data verification was used. Accepted ethical measures were taken into consideration and adhered to during the research. The analysed data were taken directly from the narratives that the individual participants saved onto flashdrives. Consensus by the researcher and coder was reached regarding the identification of themes, categories and subcategories. The following four significant themes emerged, based on the results of the data analysis: Theme One: Health, sexuality and the sexual experiences of sexual abused children and adolescents. Theme Two: The social development of sexually abused children and adolescents. Theme Three: School-related experiences and academic performance of sexually abused children and adolescents. Theme Four: Advice and suggestions from adult survivors for young victims of CSA. 12 Stage 2 offered recommendations to the teachers of learners who are, or have been sexually abused, derived from the findings of Phase 1. The conclusion was reached that CSA does have an impact on the academic performance of learners. Therefore, teachers are in need of a greater understanding and awareness of CSA, in order to help these learners.

This study (N = 123) contrasted a group of sexually abused children in treatment, aged 6 to 12 years, with two comparable groups—other non-sexually abused children in treatment, and non-abused, non-treatment children—to determine whether differences in Rosebush Picture selection could be demonstrated. All children underwent evaluation procedures that included completion of a 12 picture selection (the Rosebush Picture Sort) and the Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory-2 (CFSEI-2). A demographic questionnaire for each child was completed. Results showed no differences in picture selection or self-esteem scores of children at the beginning or end-treatment stage. Sexually abused children's Rosebush Picture Sort (RPS) selections at mid-treatment were different than both comparison groups. The self-esteem scores of the two clinical groups in mid-treatment were significantly lower than the scores of the non-abused, non-treatment group, but did not differ from one another. The findings indicate that sexually abused children identify Rosebush Picture Sort pictures differently than other children. It is possible that sexual abuse affects the internal working model of children differently than other types of abuse and trauma. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

D.Litt. et Phil. / Incidence and prevalence rates of child sexual abuse and incest are shockingly high. Children of both genders are sexually abused every 25 minutes in South Africa. This abuse results in emotional, spiritual, social, interpersonal, sexual, psychosomatic, neurological and cognitive disturbances. Many of these consequences persist into adulthood. Adult survivors do not always link their symptoms or problems with their childhood sexual abuse experiences. Those that do seek help for those symptoms only in adulthood. Specialised treatment models have been developed for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. These treatment approaches neglect the spiritual consequences of childhood sexual abuse and have overlooked the value of incorporating the religious or spiritual beliefs of clients into the therapy. Hypnotherapeutic strategies have been successful in treating traumatic conditions, yet, they are not intended for treatment of adult survivors of childhood incest and sexual abuse. This study results in an understanding of the long-term spiritual consequences of adult abuse survivors. A treatment approach, integrating concepts of existing abuse focused models, hypnotherapeutic strategies and the spiritual beliefs of clients is developed to compensate for the aforementioned limitations. To enhance the treatment outcome, principles of Tibetan psychology and rational-emotive therapy were integrated into the treatment approach. The experiences of five female adult survivors’ of the long-term spiritual consequences of the abuse, and their experiences of the hypnotherapeutic approach was assessed in a pilot study. Questions regarding the consequences of the abuse, hypnosis and spirituality were included in the pilot study questionnaire. The results obtained from this study were integrated into the intervention study. The intervention study also consisted of five adult females and the therapy process was defined with reference to the long-term consequences and strategies comprising five modalities (spiritual concepts, Tibetan psychology, cognitive therapy, hypnotherapy, and existing incest focused treatment models). The data obtained from the pilot and intervention studies were qualitatively analysed within an action research methodology. The action research approach consists of four action research cycles. The first cycle comprised the literature review; the second the pilot study; the third the intervention study, and; the fourth, an integration of the above cycles. Findings obtained from the pilot study showed that participants do suffer serious long-term spiritual consequences as a result of having been sexually abused as children. Participants of the pilot study unanimously concluded that the hypnotherapeutic strategies made the therapy more meaningful for them. This corresponds with findings from clinically researched studies. Participants particularly benefited from their visualisations, their self-hypnosis audio-tapes, breathing techniques and from the integration of their personal spiritual beliefs and visualisations into the therapy. The hypnotic trance resulted in greater recall of childhood memories. The interpersonal functioning of the participants improved as well as feelings of guilt, sadness, fear and anger. Conclusions drawn from the interventions study indicate that the synthesis of strategies obtained from the four modalities proved to be a valuable therapeutic treatment approach with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. As a direct result of the therapy clients were able to heal many negative consequences of the abuse. Clients established healthier interpersonal boundaries, resolved feelings of sadness, fear, aggression, resentment and self-doubt. A few clients formed healthier body-images, became more assertive and self-confident. Certain clients were able to forgive the perpetrators and others found it easier to interact with the perpetrators after their therapy. Furthermore, clients were able to find meaning in their abuse experiences and some decided to be of service to mankind after their therapy. This study is a comprehensive guideline for professionals working with such survivors. Findings in this study may assist professionals to acquire an understanding of the experience of childhood sexual abuse and hypnotherapy as experienced by female survivors. It provides insight into the long-term psychological and spiritual consequences suffered from the abuse. It is hoped that the findings of this study will inform future research, contribute towards theory-building in this field, and assist professionals with their clinical practices. / Prof. W.J. Schoeman Dr. R. Pelser.

The research investigated the impact of sexual harassment on withdrawal behaviors and attitudes toward harassment by examining the gender composition of the harassment dyad and the organizational status of the perpetrator in relation to the victim. Archival data from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan was used to obtain surveys in which participants rated their attitudes and experiences related to sexual harassment. Only individuals who reported experiencing sexual harassment within the 24 months prior to data collection are included in the current research. A MANOVA was conducted to determine if withdrawal behaviors and attitudes of victims varied by the gender dyad and/or the organizational status of the perpetrator. Results indicated that individuals harassed by people with higher organizational status displayed more withdrawal behaviors in the form of decreased productivity and increased use of sick, annual, and unpaid leave. Individuals harassed by a member of the same gender also used more unpaid leave. Interestingly, individuals harassed by members of the opposite gender, tended to disagree more strongly with the attitude index measuring cautious awareness of sexual harassment.

Structural equation modeling was used to examine how childhood sexual abuse (and other associated variables, such as family functioning and experiencing multiple forms of abuse) relates to revictimization and psychological distress. Participants were women who participated in Project HOW: Health Outcomes of Women interviews, a longitudinal study that spanned six waves of interviews. Only women with a history of childhood sexual abuse were included in the present study (n=178). Experiencing nonsexual child maltreatment in addition to childhood sexual abuse appears directly related to adult sexual and physical revictimization and indirectly related to psychological distress. Childhood sexual abuse alone was not predictive of revictimization or psychological abuse. This suggests that other mediating factors may explain the relation between CSA and revictimization found in other research. Clinical implications based on the results of the present study emphasize the importance of identifying children who have experienced multiple forms of abuse as particularly at risk for future victimization. In addition, providing interventions with a focus on education and empowerment might decrease risk for future violence and subsequent emotional maladjustment. Potential future research could examine the treatment outcomes and efficacy of these interventions as well as identify those mediating factors that increase the risk for adult revictimization for those individuals who experience only childhood sexual abuse.