This research focuses on the personal stories surrounding men who were sexually abused in childhood. The aim of this study is to shed light on the experiences of these men, and attempt to lift the veil of secrecy and stigma attached to male childhood sexual abuse. Three participants were selected for this qualitative study using the selection procedure of purposive sampling. Each participant was introduced with the use of a semi-structured interview format, and the information that was obtained from each participant was explored using a hermeneutic analysis approach. The results suggest that society’s naivety and ignorance of issues pertaining to sexually abused men are prominent. Both differences and similarities, in relation to the experiences of these men, are evident. With particular reference to the three participants whom partook in this study, the differing experiences that appear significant are suicidal ideation; low self-esteem; flashbacks; fear of men in general; and mind-body separation. The similar experiences that are evident within the participants’ stories are their desire for secrecy; fear of what society may think of them; desperate attempts to cope and subsequently escape the memories of their pasts; long-lasting effects, such as a lack of trust and an absence of intimacy; and determination to move forward and prevail. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

After over 30 years of research, our knowledge of the consequences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is still marked by considerable disarray. A research programme of three studies was designed to improve our understanding of functioning in adulthood after CSA by considering perceptions of sexual abuse from three different viewpoints: Clients with a history of CSA, lay, non-abused adults, and sexual abuse practitioners. In the first study, Multidimensional scaling was employed to develop a reporting device summarising the wide range effects and coping efforts likely to following sexual abuse (RESA – Reporting Effects of Sexual Abuse). A two-fold mapping and profiling approach was then used to highlight consistency and specificity of sexual abuse sequelae by comparing effect-coping patterns of 113 adults with a history of CSA to profiles describing the functioning of nontraumatised adults. The second study then enquired about the stability of perceptions of CSA consequences carried by 149 lay, non-abused adults. An analogue priming study explored how the impact of emotional arousal and cognitive re-structuring intervention adjust participants’ understanding of CSA outcomes. As lay, non-abused adults were found to carry an oversimplified perception of CSA sequelae, Study Three therefore investigated if practitioners were exempt from such underlying biases. Signal detection analysis was used in the final third study to independently assess 85 practitioners’ judgment accuracy and bias when asked to identify sexual abuse effects among a set of supposedly unrelated behaviour, and to discriminate direct effects from secondary ways of coping with CSA. While practitioners were successful in detecting relevant CSA sequelae, they nonetheless demonstrated a highly overinclusive perception compared to the empirical reports by sexually abused clients and societal perceptions. Findings of the three studies were integrated to build an empirical framework on the multiplicity of perceptions on the sequelae of CSA. Overall, this research showed that all individuals, regardless of their association with CSA, carry perceptions about the consequences of CSA. These perceptions appeared to be universal, independent of emotional arousal or attempted cognitive restructuring. While CSA clients reported an array of effects and coping efforts, society only seemed to reflect basic elements of these as related to CSA. Professionals, on the other hand, indicated overinclusive perceptions in which most characteristics were identified as CSA sequelae, in particular as a mean of coping. Finally, no specific pathway was found to follow CSA. While there appeared to be an increased intensity of effects and a greater need for coping among adults with a history of CSA, the general pattern or type of sequelae was also reported by non-traumatised adults. Understanding the functional processes underlying these patterns of common sequelae can help to tailor treatment to the individual needs of clients who experienced CSA. Further implications of this empirical model for practice and research in the area of sexual abuse in Aotearoa/New Zealand are discussed.

This qualitative research enquiry sought to develop an understanding from forty-four women, comprising twenty-two couples in committed lesbian partnerships, of how they managed the long-term impacts of child sexual abuse, both on themselves and on their relationships. This is an area that is under- theorised in the literature. A number of key findings emerged from the analysis. The sexual abuse that women had experienced had impacted their adult lives in various ways. Of these the personal aspect featured most highly, with feelings of self-blame, shame and low self esteem commonly reported. Those women who reported physically invasive sexual abuse also reported a wider variety of effects, and in proportionately greater numbers, than women whose abusive experience had not encompassed that particular dimension. Just as the survivors were impacted in a variety of ways by their abuse, so too were their partners, although the effects upon the partner varied over time and in intensity depending on the length of the relationship and the degree of resolution experienced by the survivor. Despite challenges the over all view of couple relationships was positive, and couples were able to articulate coping strategies they felt would be useful to others in similar circumstances. Partners were able to identify with many of the relationship issues outlined by heterosexual male partners of female survivors, although lesbian partners had more a positive view of counselling. The emotional support and commitment of a caring partner was clearly valued although in these partnerships both women wanted their relationship to be based on more than the reparative needs of one member. Finally, being lesbian was no barrier to seeking counselling assistance. A large proportion of the participants had used counselling as a way of working through their experiences of child sexual abuse and had found this to be valuable. These findings have implications for social work practice with child and adult female survivors. They emphasise the long term impacts of sexual abuse, the important contributions made by partners and counsellors in supporting women sexually abused as children and the levels of inter-sibling sexual abuse perpetrated by brothers. The research findings also contain information from the women themselves on what facilitated their ability to cope with the effects of child sexual abuse from the varying perspectives of survivor, partner and couple. This will be essential information for counsellors and social workers wishing to employ strengths and evidence-based approaches in their work with this client group and others, particularly heterosexual women and heterosexual couples.

This research focuses on the personal stories surrounding men who were sexually abused in childhood. The aim of this study is to shed light on the experiences of these men, and attempt to lift the veil of secrecy and stigma attached to male childhood sexual abuse. Three participants were selected for this qualitative study using the selection procedure of purposive sampling. Each participant was introduced with the use of a semi-structured interview format, and the information that was obtained from each participant was explored using a hermeneutic analysis approach. The results suggest that society’s naivety and ignorance of issues pertaining to sexually abused men are prominent. Both differences and similarities, in relation to the experiences of these men, are evident. With particular reference to the three participants whom partook in this study, the differing experiences that appear significant are suicidal ideation; low self-esteem; flashbacks; fear of men in general; and mind-body separation. The similar experiences that are evident within the participants’ stories are their desire for secrecy; fear of what society may think of them; desperate attempts to cope and subsequently escape the memories of their pasts; long-lasting effects, such as a lack of trust and an absence of intimacy; and determination to move forward and prevail. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

A study of women who are childhood sexual abuse survivors and have been affected by chemical dependency.

M.A. / This study is an attempt to investigate the way in which female survivors of childhood sexual abuse made sense of their experiences. Three participants were interviewed and the relevant themes that emerged from those interviews were coded and reported. The study was conducted from a qualitative perspective that was grounded in social construction methodology. The survivors' individual constructions of meaning at the time of their sexual abuse, their introduction to the social constructions of meaning about child sexual abuse and the double bind between these constructions are reported. The survivors' narratives are representations of the positive way they constructed meaning about their experiences as a way of coping. Their stories are also reflections of the confusion they experienced when introduced to the social constructions of child sexual abuse that differed from the meaning they attributed to their experiences. The study is a representation of the double bind that the difference between the individual and social constructions of their child sexual abuse created for them.

M.A. / The purpose of this study is to tell the story of sexual revictimisation of coloured women. The epistemological framework of this study is an integrated one including both modem and postmodern approaches to the study of revictimisation. The dominant postmodern approach is that of constructivism. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of research are used to collect and analyse the data. The story of revictimisation was recounted firstly through responses to a questionnaire by a sample of coloured women within the context of a coloured community. Secondly, the unique stories of sexual revictimisation were re-authored through the co-author's lens in the form of themes that emerged from the stories told by each of the three narrators. The effects of sexual revictimisation, as well as the specific ways each narrator survived their abuse experiences was discussed. Recurring themes evident in the stories of all three narrators were elucidated in a co-constructed story of stories. A comparison between the quantitative research results, the qualitative story constructions and the literature on sexual revictimisation concluded the re-constructed story where the numerous stories, within either a unique, cultural or universal context, were integrated into a conceptual whole. The information gained could serve as guidelines for those working with adult survivors of child sexual abuse within a coloured context. An understanding of sexual revictimisation and the risk factors involved in the effects of child sexual abuse may be useful in the prevention of sexual revictimisation.

Thesis ((M.A. (Social work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Survivors of child sexual abuse experience a lot but various challenges in their everyday lives. The overall aim of the study was to describe the experiences of male adult survivors of child sexual abuse at Ga-Matlala, Limpopo Province. The study objectives were to identify types of child sexual abuse cases at Ga- Matlala uperpetrated prior 1994; to determine how adult male survivors of child sexual abuse handle their life problems; to describe the social impact of child sexual abuse on male adult survivors; and to recommend appropriate professional intervention to male adult survivors of child sexual abuse. The study utilised descriptive research design. The data was collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews from three (3) survivors of child sexual abuse who were sexually abused prior 1994 who are residing at Ga-Matlala area. The sample consisted of survivors of child sexual abuse drawn from the database of Bakone Tribal Council compiled and administered pre 1994. A thematic analysis method was selected. Thematic analysis organises and describes data set in detail. The data was analysed in eight steps.Ethical considerations such as voluntary participation, permission to conduct the study, anonymity, confidentiality and no harm to respondents were considered.The researcher found that two survivors indicated to be having abilities to resolve their personal problems while one participant has indicated to be having problems in resolving his personal problems. All three survivors indicated to be engaged in an intimate relationships. All there survivors indicated to have had experienced child sexual abuse more than once and they also indicated to have had experienced more than one type of sexual abuse. Two participants out of three survivors had not reported of imitating what they experienced while one has adopted the lifestyle but he is not doing it with children like it was done to him. All survivors indicated to have forgiven their perpetrators. All of survivors indicated that their childhood experience had a negative impact in their childhood lives and it still has a negative influence in their adult life. All three survivors indicated to have not accessed professional assistance in their childhood even during their participation in the study they have not yet accessed professional intervention towards their past traumatic experience. However, all three survivors acknowledged the fact that post traumatic intervention is important to their personal growth with regard to finding closure, gaining confidence and finding coping strategies that will be helpful in facing their personal problems with an open mind and positivity of finding solutions without tracing their childhood past into it. The researcher concluded that all the participants of the study had experienced different kinds or types of child sexual abuse and it has negatively impacted them. Being involved in an intimate relationship was not difficult for the survivors as all of them were engaged in intimate relationships. All three survivors need to access professional help for them to overcome the impact of their past child sexual abuse experience. There is a huge difference/gap regarding the previous findings and the current findings mainly because most of the previous studies were European based than African Based (South Africa) and it was also showing a gap between European based Theories and African based theories when dealing with child sexual abuse. The main recommendation that the researcher had was to motivate the survivors to participate in the process of accessing professional help to enable them to deal with their current lives without tracing everything back to their childhood.

Afrikaans text / Hierdie studie bied vanuit 'n ekosistemiese benadering 'n verduideliking van die lewenswereld van die volwasse persoon wat as kind gemolesteer is. Enkele uitgangspunte van die ekosistemiese benadering word bespreek wat dien as vertrekpunt waarvolgens die navorser konstruksies oor die as kind gemolesteerde volwassene konstrueer. Daar word gefokus op die langtermyneffekte van die kindermolestering met spesifieke verwysing na die effek op die • fisiese gedrag van die volwassene; • die aard van die seksuele verhoudings van die volwassene; en • die aard van die interpersoonlike verhoudings van die volwassene. Tydens hierdie bespreking word die oorlewingstrategiee, wat die volwassene aanwend om met die l angtermyneffekte te oorl eef, duidel i k belig. Die he l i ngsproses waardeur 'n vol wassene vol gens sy of haar ei e pas beweeg ten einde die effek van die molestering te verwerk, word volledig bespreek. Die teorie is toegepas in die navorsing om die uitwerking van die kindermolestering op volwassenes te beskryf asook enkele gebeure (events) van die helingsproses waardeur 'n volwassene beweeg het. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings word geformuleer ten einde die bruikbaarheid van hierdie studie in die praktyk aan te dui. / In this study the world of the adult survivor of sexua 1 abuse is described in terms of the eco-systemic approach, as well as certain constructions within the approach. These constructions served as a base on which the researcher construed further constructions of the adult survivor of sexual abuse. The study focuses on the 1 ong term effects of the child abuse with specific reference to the effect on • the physical behaviour of the adult; • the nature of the sexual relationships of the adult; and • the nature of the interpersonal relationships of the adult. The strategies of the adult in surviving with these long term effects are also highlighted in the discussion. The healing process through which the adult survivor passes in healing the sexual trauma according to his or her own pace, is fully discussed. In the empirical research the theory is applied to describe the effect of sexual abuse on the lives of adults as well as on certain events of the healing process. Conclusions and recommendations are formulated to indicate the usefulness of this study for the field. / Social Work / D.Phil. (Maatskaplike Werk)

Afrikaans text / Hierdie studie bied vanuit 'n ekosistemiese benadering 'n verduideliking van die lewenswereld van die volwasse persoon wat as kind gemolesteer is. Enkele uitgangspunte van die ekosistemiese benadering word bespreek wat dien as vertrekpunt waarvolgens die navorser konstruksies oor die as kind gemolesteerde volwassene konstrueer. Daar word gefokus op die langtermyneffekte van die kindermolestering met spesifieke verwysing na die effek op die • fisiese gedrag van die volwassene; • die aard van die seksuele verhoudings van die volwassene; en • die aard van die interpersoonlike verhoudings van die volwassene. Tydens hierdie bespreking word die oorlewingstrategiee, wat die volwassene aanwend om met die l angtermyneffekte te oorl eef, duidel i k belig. Die he l i ngsproses waardeur 'n vol wassene vol gens sy of haar ei e pas beweeg ten einde die effek van die molestering te verwerk, word volledig bespreek. Die teorie is toegepas in die navorsing om die uitwerking van die kindermolestering op volwassenes te beskryf asook enkele gebeure (events) van die helingsproses waardeur 'n volwassene beweeg het. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings word geformuleer ten einde die bruikbaarheid van hierdie studie in die praktyk aan te dui. / In this study the world of the adult survivor of sexua 1 abuse is described in terms of the eco-systemic approach, as well as certain constructions within the approach. These constructions served as a base on which the researcher construed further constructions of the adult survivor of sexual abuse. The study focuses on the 1 ong term effects of the child abuse with specific reference to the effect on • the physical behaviour of the adult; • the nature of the sexual relationships of the adult; and • the nature of the interpersonal relationships of the adult. The strategies of the adult in surviving with these long term effects are also highlighted in the discussion. The healing process through which the adult survivor passes in healing the sexual trauma according to his or her own pace, is fully discussed. In the empirical research the theory is applied to describe the effect of sexual abuse on the lives of adults as well as on certain events of the healing process. Conclusions and recommendations are formulated to indicate the usefulness of this study for the field. / Social Work / D.Phil. (Maatskaplike Werk)