Examination of previous empirical literature illustrates how researchers have concentrated on documenting the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on the later psychological functioning of survivors, through comparisons with those who have not had such a history. Only more recently has there been a focus on assessing the relationship between aspects of the abuse and specific psychological difficulties. This thesis investigated the relationships between CSA characteristics and women’s later psychological adjustment. The role of attributions, coping methods, parenting competency and marital satisfaction were also investigated. Qualitative data on perception of benefit and general reflections of participants were used to explore participants’ self-esteem, locus of control, decisions relating to parenting, disclosure experiences, and attributions in relation to their abuse, including the search for meaning. Recruitment through newspapers and counselling services led to 118 women volunteering to complete a questionnaire evaluating the characteristics of their CSA and their current psychological adjustment. Of this group, 33 subsequently volunteered to participate in a telephone interview that explored in greater depth issues related to the long-term impact of their CSA. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on the data. The women reported a high prevalence of dysfunction in their families of origin. Abuse had generally commenced by middle childhood, and lasted for a number of years and often involved a number of perpetrators. Perpetrators were most likely to be intrafamilial, with stepfathers being over-represented. Sexual activities generally involved physical contact, with participation often induced by the use of coercion. Participants demonstrated significant difficulties in psychological adjustment, but attributions regarding the abuse improved over time. Some concerns were expressed regarding parenting competency, and avoidant coping methods were favoured. In general, participants were satisfied with their current marital relationship. Significant associations were found between coping methods, attributional style, beliefs and various psychological adjustment measures. Participants, in general, demonstrated low self-esteem and displayed an external locus of control. As a consequence of their experience of CSA, many participants reported they had decided not to have children. For those who did have children, CSA was almost universally seen as having had an impact on their parenting. Disclosure of CSA was usually delayed for a number of years, with poor outcomes generally resulting from disclosure when it occurred. Women with current partners rated them as very caring and not controlling. Participants were generally still searching for meaning in their abuse, despite many having accepted it. Survivors outlined an extensive range of long-term effects of CSA, and nominated a number of strategies that would assist in reducing these effects. The results of the study indicated that there are a number of characteristics associated with CSA which signal a higher risk of difficulties in psychological adjustment. Concerns of survivors regarding parenting were confirmed according to those who undertook this role. Unfortunately, concerns expressed by survivors that disclosure of their CSA would have had negative consequences was usually the case when they did finally disclose. However, the accessing of social and family support appeared to have an important role in changing the attributions of survivors regarding their CSA. Furthermore, change of attributions in relation to abuse may provide the key to resilience in survivors against the negative impact of CSA on later psychological adjustment.

In reviewing the literature on adult survivors of child sexual abuse/incest, it became apparent that one area has remained in its infancy: a systematic method of symptom assessment. Symptoms, both short and long term, have become clinically well documented. An index, the Sexual Abuse Survivors Symptom Index (evaluating absence/presence, frequency, severity, and impact of symptoms upon the survivor), was developed rationally from the literature was administered. A background questionnaire, simplified from one already in use, was also administered to provide information regarding variables that could confound the research.Approximately 130 female adult clinical subjects were approached to determine whether they would participate in the study. Thirty-three subjects agreed to participate. Due to the small sample size, results of the factor analysis cannot be considered reliable. The principal component factor analysis did produce eight factors, which did not converge in the varimax rotation, however, three factors did emerge. The three factors represented an affective component (almost one half of the symptoms), a somatic/sexual component, and an acting out component.The background questionnaire provided some basic support to the variables the literature reported as affecting symptom severity or likelihood for abuse to occur. Areas endorsed as most severe or correlated strongly and moderately to individual symptoms were ones that were directly connected to the abuse(i.e., age of first inappropriate sexual experience, duration of the abuse, multiple abusers, frequency of the abuse, fear of being hurt by the abusers, and overt/contact type of abuse). The variables that influenced the likelihood for abuse to occur, (i.e., substance abuse, strictness, rigid religious traditions, and physical discipline) were endorsed by slightly less than one half of the subjects, but may have had severe impact individually upon each survivor of abuse. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The current study assessed the effects of incest utilizing the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), an objective measure that can address such long term effects as low self esteem, isolation, depression, anxiety, suicidality, substance abuse, impaired sexual adjustment, psychosomatic concerns, and interpersonal relationship difficulties. Eighty-one women seeking counseling for issues related to an incestuous childhood, and 90 non sexually abused adult female clients completed the MMPI and a background information questionnaire.A Multivariate Analysis of Variance test comparing the mean profiles demonstrated that the incest group was more somatic, depressed, angry, anxious, and confused. A chi square analysis of two-point code type configurations found the incest group being more classified by the 48/84 and the 24/42 code types whereas the control group was more represented by the 46/64 code type. Lastly, the groups were compared by completing cluster analyses on each group's profiles. Both groups yielded an "overwhelmed" cluster that was statistically the same. Secondly, they each yielded a "normal" cluster that was similar but statistically different. Finally, the incest group yielded an "angry and confused" cluster and the control group yielded a "somatizer" cluster. Descriptions of the clusters and reasons for their differences are proposed.Differential impact was examined by comparing the incest clusters on number of abusers, use of threat or force, identity of the abuser, perceived betrayal by a non offending parent, length of time since abuse, and length of time in counseling. The only significant finding in these analyses was that the "overwhelmed" cluster had a greater number of abusers than the "angry and confused" and the "normal" clusters.The first two analyses were included in the study to validate the similarity of the present data with previous research and to demonstrate the myopic vision that results from analyzing the data in these manners. The cluster analysis allowed for the examination of the differential impact of the numerous long term sequalae. Recommendations for further research are presented as well as implications for treatment. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-206).

Thesis (MSD(Social Work and Criminology))-University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-206).

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the relationship between mothers and their incestuously abused daughters. The research sample consisted of five adult daughters who in their childhood and/or adolescence, were abused by their biological fathers. The volunteer participants were in therapy at the time of the research interviews. The study employed a phenomenological method in order to allow the daughters to describe their experiences and perceptions of their mothers. By engaging in a dialogue with the daughters, the researcher attempted to explore the dynamics and impact of the mother-daughter relationships on the daughters. Results confirmed that these mother-daughter relationships were damaged. However, the daughters also expressed strong desires to heal their relationships with their mothers. In addition, the daughters identified important connections between their relationships with their mothers and the continued influence of this relationship on their experience of themselves in their current lives. The findings of this study have important research and therapeutic implications. The research findings strongly suggest that the relationship between daughters and their mothers in families where father-daughter incest occurs needs to be examined beyond individual family member's roles which have been the exclusive focus of existing research. Furthermore, the strong connections made by the participants of the present study between their relationships with their mothers and their sense of self, may be an important consideration in therapeutic work with this client population. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Thesis ((M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of the North, 2000 / Refer to the document

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.

Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to determine standards or criteria to be used when deciding on the optimal use of the criminal sanction and to evaluate the efficacy of such criteria by applying them to an existing crime, namely incest. Since criminal punishment necessarily impacts negatively on the human rights of those subject to it, it is submitted that it should only be used as a last resort where it is absolutely necessary to do so. Relevant constitutional provisions and other legal sources are examined and used as the basis for expounding a test for determining the circumstances under which it is appropriate to criminalise. It is argued that the decision to utilise the criminal sanction may be tested against certain guidelines: the state bears the burden of showing, firstly, that the rationale of the crime in question is theoretically justifiable in that criminalisation serves a worthy state purpose; and secondly, that criminalisation is reasonable, being both practically desirable and effective in achieving legitimate state goals in the least restrictive manner possible. In the second part of the thesis, the proposed criteria are applied to the common law crime of incest. An initial discussion of the crime indicates that a wide range of conduct is punishable as incest, including both extremely harmful conduct, such as the rape of a child by her father, and completely innocuous behaviour, for instance private sexual intercourse between consenting adults who are merely related by marriage. Next, an attempt is made to ascertain the true rationale for criminalising incest and then to establish whether such rationale is justifiable. The conclusion is reached that despite there being good grounds for punishing certain manifestations of incest, the only reason for imposing criminal punishment that is valid in all instances, is the unconvincing contention that the state is justified in prohibiting incest merely because incest is regarded as morally abhorrent. And even assuming that targeting and preventing undesirable forms of harmful or offensive conduct is a justifiable purpose of the incest prohibition, it is nevertheless submitted that criminalising incest is unreasonable, since the crime as it is presently formulated is both over- and under-inclusive for the effective realisation of any praiseworthy aims. After testing incest against the criteria developed, the recommendation is made that incest be decriminalised. It is contended that there are sufficient alternative criminal prohibitions available that would adequately punish harmful incestuous conduct without simultaneously unreasonably limiting the rights of consenting adults to choose their sexual (or marriage) partner without state interference. Decriminalisation would not only prevent potential violations of human rights, but the legitimacy of the criminal justice system as a whole would be considerably enhanced if it were apparent that the criminal sanction was reserved for conduct truly deserving of punishment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oogmerk van hierdie studie is om standaarde of riglyne daar te stel ter aanwending waar besluit word oor die optimale benutting van die strafsanksie, asook om die doeltreffendheid van sulke riglyne vas te stel deur die toepassing daarvan op 'n bestaande misdaad, naamlik bloedskande. Aangesien straf altyd 'n nadelige uitwerking op die menseregte van dié wat daaraan onderhewig is, het, word aan die hand gedoen dat dit slegs as 'n laaste uitweg aangewend moet word indien absoluut noodsaaklik. Ondersoek word ingestel na toepaslike grondwetlike bepalings en ander regsbronne, wat gebruik word as grondslag vir 'n toets ten einde te bepaalonder welke omstandighede kriminalisasie gepas is. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat die besluit om gebruik te maak van 'n strafsanksie teen sekere riglyne getoets kan word. Die staat dra die bewyslas om aan te toon, eerstens, dat die bestaansrede vir die betrokke misdaad teoreties regverdigbaar is aangesien krimininalisasie 'n waardige staatsdoel dien; en tweedens, dat kriminalisasie redelik is, aangesien dit prakties wenslik is, asook die staat se legitieme doelwitte dien op effektiewe wyse op die mees onbeperkende wyse moontlik. In die tweede gedeelte van die verhandeling word die voorgestelde riglyne op die gemeenregtelike misdaad bloedskande toegepas. 'n Aanvanklike bespreking van die misdaad dui daarop dat die trefwydte van bloedskande sodanig is dat dit gedrag insluit wat uiters benadelend is, soos byvoorbeeld die verkragting van 'n kind deur haar vader, maar ook heeltemal onskadelike optrede soos byvoorbeeld geslagsverkeer tussen toestemmende volwassenes wat bloot aanverwante is. Die volgende stap is om die ware bestaansrede vir die verbod op bloedskande vas te stel en daarna te oorweeg of sodanige bestaansrede regverdigbaar is. Die gevolgtrekking is dat alhoewel daar goeie gronde vir die bestrawwing van sekere verskyningsvorme van bloedskande is, die enigste altyd-geldende rede vir strafoplegging in hierdie verband die onoortuigende bewering dat bloedskande moreelonverdraaglik beskou word, is. Selfs al word daar aanvaar dat die identifikasie en voorkoming van onwenslike verskyningsvorme van skadelike of aanstootlike gedrag 'n regverdigbare doel vir die bloedskandeverbod is, voer die skrywer nie te min aan dat die kriminalisasie van bloedskande onredelik is omrede die huidige misdaadomskrywing tegelykertyd beide oor- en onder- inklusief is om einge moontlike goeie doelwitte effektief te bereik. Nadat bloedskande getoets word teen die riglyne wat ontwikkel is, word aanbeveel dat bloedskande gedekriminaliseer word. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat daar genoegsame alternatiewe strafbepalings is wat aangewend kan word om skadelike gedrag wat onder die misdaad bloedskande resorteer te bestraf sonder dat die regte van toestemmende volwassenes om sonder staatsinmenging hul seksuele- (of huweliks-) maat te kies onredelik ingeperk word. Dekriminalisasie sal nie slegs moontlike menseregteskendings voorkom nie, maar ook die legitimiteit van die strafregstelsel as geheel bevorder deurdat dit duidelik blyk dat die strafsankie reserveer word vir optrede wat werklik straf verdien.