This study examined if and how male survivors' personal meanings of masculinity influenced the impact of childhood sexual abuse. Gender was defined as the individual male survivor's personal construction of masculinity within the context of the sociocultural construction of traditional masculinity. Six men participated in in-depth unstructured interviews. Data analysis of the verbatim transcriptions of the interviews was guided by qualitative methods associated with a constructivist paradigm. All men reported numerous long-term effects similar to those reported by female survivors with no clear relation to gender. Results, however, also suggested that variations in male survivors' personal meanings of masculinity were associated with different outcomes. Male survivors who held personal constructions of masculinity as more traditional reported disturbances in their sense of self as masculine and their sexuality as males. Male survivors who held less traditional personal constructions of masculinity reported fewer or no difficulties in these areas. The results of this study challenge theoretical models on male victimization that propose restrictive male responses to trauma, and highlight the importance of taking into account the individual male survivor's personal meaning of masculinity for a more complete understanding of the impact of sexual abuse.

This exploratory research study examines the experiences of women sexually abused in childhood who now practice Buddhist meditation. Through in-depth interviews eight women shared their experiences. Three overriding categories emerged through thematic analysis: how the participants combined meditation practice and healing from childhood trauma, the struggles they experienced with meditation, and the transformations/changes they experienced with the meditation practice. While the complexity of their experience with meditation renders it too simplistic to qualify as positive or negative, the data did reveal that meditation has been experienced as an important and useful component of their healing from childhood sexual abuse.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-133). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Terapeutiese hulpverlening aan die seksueel gemolesteerde kind binne gesinsverband vanuit 'n Sielkundige Opvoedkundige perspektief is in hierdie studie onderneem. 'n Oorsig oor seksuele kindermolestering binne gesinsverband het getoon dat dit reeds vanaf die vroegste tye voorgekom het en tans kommerwekkende afmetings aanneem in die Republiek van Suid-Afrika, sonder dat die opvoedkundige sielkundige as lid van 'n multi-professionele span betrek word by terapeutiese hulpverlening. 'n Beskrywing van seksuele kindermolestering binne gesinsverband het getoon dat seksuele kindermolestering verskeie vorme aanneem en dat die oortreders daarvoor verantwoordelik is dat ouerskap en gesinstrukture ontoereikend verwerklik word. Dit bied aan die opvoedkundige sielkundige die moontlikheid om vanwee sy toeganklikheid en professionele deskundigheid as lid van 'n multiprofessionele span toereikend terapeutiese hulp te verleen aan die seksueel gemolesteerde kind. Terapeutiese hulpverlening aan die seksueel gemolesteerde kind binne gesinsverband is onderneem vanuit 'n Sielkundige Opvoedkundige benadering met relasie terapie as wyse van hulpverlening / This study investigates therapeutic aid to the child who is sexually abused by a family member, from the viewpoint of Psychology of Education. An overview of sexual abuse of children in the family context indicates a long history of occurence and present statistics show an alarming increase in reported cases with educational psychologists seldom being included in a multi-discipl inary thera-peutic team. A description of sexual abuse of children in the family context suggests that this may take different forms and the perpetrators are responsible for the breakdown in parenting and family structures. Educational psychologists are, because of their professional expertise and accessibility, able to offer thera-peutic aid to the sexually abused child as a member of a multi-professional team. Therapeutic aid to the sexually abused child in the family context is undertaken with Relationship Therapy as a medium of aid / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Previous studies have indicated an association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and an increased risk of engaging in unsafe behaviours during adulthood, including risky sexual practices. This study examined the relationship between CSA and adult HIV sexual risk behaviour among a sample of South African men who have sex with men (MSM). Potential pathological long-term mental health outcomes of CSA, including dissociation, sex-related substance abuse, depression, sexual compulsivity, impaired interpersonal communication, and over-reliance on submissive sexual scripts, were treated as variables mediating the relationship between CSA and sexual risk behaviour. Men frequenting a gay internet dating site were randomly selected to complete an electronic version of the anonymous survey. Results indicate that one-fourth of participants reported a history of CSA. Men with a history of unwanted sexual activity during childhood were more likely to report recreational substance abuse, sex-related substance abuse, sexual compulsivity, and adult revictimisation experiences. Men who were abused were also more likely to engage in unprotected anal intercourse compared to those who were not abused. Mediation analyses revealed that MSM who are survivors of CSA are particularly susceptible to drug abuse, sex-related drug abuse, and sexual compulsivity, and these sequelae in turn predict higher reported numbers of male sexual partners. The current data suggest that CSA is widespread among men at high risk for HIV infection, and that it may have a devastating influence on the quality of life and health risk behaviour of these men. These results also highlight the importance of mental health services and new approaches in HIV prevention for MSM who have been sexually abused as children. Further research is needed into the contextual factors of the childhood abuse experience which account for the variability in longterm negative mental health outcomes of CSA survivors.

This exploratory research study examines the experiences of women sexually abused in childhood who now practice Buddhist meditation. Through in-depth interviews eight women shared their experiences. Three overriding categories emerged through thematic analysis: how the participants combined meditation practice and healing from childhood trauma, the struggles they experienced with meditation, and the transformations/changes they experienced with the meditation practice. While the complexity of their experience with meditation renders it too simplistic to qualify as positive or negative, the data did reveal that meditation has been experienced as an important and useful component of their healing from childhood sexual abuse. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been the subject of much recent controversy as a result of Rind, Tromovitch and Bauserman's (1998) meta-analytic examination of CSA, which found a weak relationship between CSA and self-reported psychopathology in college samples. There have been few studies of CSA which look beyond self-report. The present study is an exploration of the relationships between CSA, quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG), neuropsychological, and psychological measurements in 24 high-functioning, unmedicated CSA adults who were matched for age, gender, and handedness with a group of adults without CSA (NCSA). The objectives of this study were to: 1) examine EEG abnormalities associated with CSA, 2) investigate QEEG cortical coherence in the groups using neuroelectric Eigen image (NEI) connectivity indices (Hudspeth, 1999), 3) integrate personality differences associated with CSA with EEG differences, and 4) better understand left versus right hemisphere functioning in CSA using intelligence testing. An examination of QEEG cortical coherence revealed moderate to large effect sizes indicating patterns of decreased connectivity between brain regions on the right frontally in the delta band, and frontally and centro-temporally on the right in the alpha band, and posteriorly in the alpha and beta bands, as well as in the cross-correlation; increased connectivity between brain regions was evidenced centrally across the motor strip and on the left temporally in the delta band, which differentiated the groups. Large effect sizes obtained on measures of personality were related to poorer adjustment for CSA adults in comparison to NCSA adults. In contrast to prior findings with clinical groups (Black, Hudspeth, Townsend, & Bodenhamer-Davis, 2002; Ito et al., 1993), hypotheses related to QEEG cortical coherence (left hemisphere alpha hypercoherence and right hemisphere theta hypocoherence), EEG abnormalities, and IQ (Verbal less than Performance) were not supported. Walker's (2003) theoretical modular coherence model was utilized to integrate coherence and personality variables and provide treatment options.

One hundred, primarily incarcerated, adult male sex offenders, were interviewed to determine the extent of their own experience of childhood sexual abuse and their incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Also investigated were the roles played by various aspects of sexual abuse in the development of PTSD and other psychological disorders. Fifty seven percent of the sample reported having been sexually victimized. Findings regarding age when the abuse began, use of force and severity of body violation were consistent with previous studies. As was found in prior research, the majority of their abusers were known to them and were women. Abuse by men and having been anally penetrated were correlated with the development of PTSD. Also implicated in the development of PTSD and related symptomology was the use of force during the abuse, severity of bodily violation, and, inconsistently, duration of the abuse. Regression analysis revealed use of force, not telling about the abuse as a child, a closer relationship to one's perpetrator, and increased severity of body violation to be, in combination, most consistently predictive of PTSD development. In the sexually abused sample, 33% received a retrospective diagnosis of PTSD, while five percent were currently diagnosed. This contrasts with rates found in the non-sexually abused sample of 7% past diagnosis of PTSD and 2% current diagnosis of PTSD. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which the experience of incest contributed to women's' evaluations of counselors' trustworthiness and attractiveness based on the counselors' use of touch. Counseling facilities, educational centers, and individual therapists who led groups for female adult survivors of incest and non-victimized women, were contacted and asked to participate in a study designed to evaluate counseling techniques for women in counseling. The sample consisted of 130 volunteers over the age of 18 and currently in counseling. Groups of participants evaluated two 4 1/2 minute Simulated counseling sessions on video tapes. Nearly half of the sample viewed the tapes with a male counselor and a female client, and the others viewed tapes with a female counselor and a female client. On one of each set of counseling vignettes, the counselor supportively touched the client four times. All other variables were held constant. Participants evaluated the counselors on attributes of attractiveness and trustworthiness associated with the use of counselor touch. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that two variables significantly influenced how participants evaluated counselor attributes associated with the use of counselor touch, namely counselor attributes when the counselor did not use touch and counselor's gender. Results of independent t-tests indicated that female counselors were rated significantly higher on both counselor attributes in both counseling vignettes. Paired t-tests indicated that female counselors were rated significantly higher on counseling attributes when they used touch versus when they did not use touch. Male counselors were rated significantly higher on the counselor attribute of attractiveness when they used touch versus when they did not use touch. A significant interaction was found between the participant's incest experience and ratings of counselors' attributes when the counselor did not use touch. That is, participant's ratings of counselors' attributes when the counselor used touch and participant's incest experience were combined, they made a Significant contribution to how participants rated counselors on counseling attributes when the counselor used touch. The findings of this study suggest that whether women experience incest or not does not effect their perceptions of counselors who use touch. Furthermore, women preferred counselors who used touch versus those that did not. Implications for further training suggest that counselors be taught appropriate touch techniques to use in counseling with both adult survivors of incest and non-victimized women. / Ed. D.

This exploratory study examined the effects of ritualistic child abuse, with its attendant sexual abuse, on a Single adult survivor. It sought to investigate the impact of such severe psychological, emotional, and sexual trauma on her function in a variety of social roles, such as wife, mother, employee, friend, parishioner, and therapy client, roles which are particularly salient to the practice of marital and family therapy and which offer potential resources for healing. The study employed in-depth interviewing of an adult female who was ritually abused during childhood and adolescence by family members. Her husband, son, friends, minister, and therapist were also interviewed in order to provide understanding of their perspectives about the survivor's recovery process and to determine their involvement. This researcher, also a survivor of similar abuses, utilized direct exposure to the survivor's therapeutic process through participant observation and examined her artistic creations, completed during the recovery period, in efforts to explore creativity as a further resource for healing. This report has attempted to describe aspects of a complex phenomenon, ritualistic child abuse, by capturing the candid recollections of the subject and outlining the interpersonal relationships that formed her recovery context. This researcher has shared a brief analysis of the results, suggestions of questions for further research, and personal reflections. / Ph. D.