Thesis (M.A.)--The Master's College, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [117]-121).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2002. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [64]-65).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Robin E. Perry, Florida State University, College of Social Work. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 13, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 162 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed on Oct. 6, 2006). PDF text: 121 p. ; 5.44Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3213466. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm, microfiche and paper format.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of culture on coping with child sexual abuse (CSA). Specifically, I assessed whether the perpetrators’ familial membership (intrafamilial vs extrafamilial) moderated the relations (a) between traditional Latin@ values (familismo, respeto, traditional gender roles, and personalismo) and survivors’ perceived family support effectiveness and (b) between Latin@ values and current trauma interference. I also examined the relationships (a) between trauma resolution and family’s support effectiveness and (b) between trauma resolution and current trauma interference. In total, 83 Latina survivors participated in this online study. Results indicated that the relation between respeto and current trauma interference was moderated by the perpetrators’ familial membership. Survivors who highly valued personalismo, regardless of the perpetrators’ familial membership, reported that the trauma interfered less with their lives. The participants who reported that the trauma interfered more with their lives also reported that the trauma was more resolved. In addition, those who reported greater current trauma interference were more likely to have sought counseling for their CSA, and those who were older tended to feel their trauma was less resolved. Finally, survivors of intrafamilial CSA tended to be younger when the abuse occurred and older at the time of participation in the study. In sum, these findings highlight the complex relationship between culture and coping among Latina survivors of CSA. Findings can contribute to the development of culturally informed services for Latina survivors of CSA by helping counselors and researchers assist Latinas to understand how CSA survivors’ coping efficacy and recovery outcomes are related to their cultural contexts.

Previous research has shown that people who are depressed, have recently attempted suicide or experienced childhood sexual abuse have difficulties recalling specific autobiographical events from memory. This overgeneral memory bias has been found for both negative and positive events and has been found to be a maladaptive cognitive style. The present study is an investigation of autobiographical memory retrieval in people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, a disorder which has para-suicidal behaviour as one of its diagnostic criterion. The BPD group (n = 23) was compared with a control group (n = 23) on i) a measure for autobiographical memory retrieval, ii) various measures of mood, iii) a dissociative experiences scale and iv) frequency of para-suicidal incidents. In line with hypotheses, results indicated that the subject group produced significantly more overgeneral autobiographical memories than the control group. This memory bias remained for positive and negative events when depression was statistically controlled. No differences were found between the two groups on autobiographical memory for neutral events when depression was statistically controlled. Analysis indicated that dissociation positively correlated with overgeneral autobiographical memory and that both depression and anxiety correlated with selfharm. A trend was also found between overgeneral autobiographical memory and self-harm, suggesting that overgeneral memory may function as a defence mechanism, protecting individuals from self-harrrýing behaviour. These results are discussed in relation to the current theories of autobiographical memory and the nature of dissociation in memory disturbance. The importance of assessing Axis I disorders and targeting of mood in clinical practice, to decrease self-harm, is highlighted. The study also highlights the heterogeneous nature of Borderline Personality Disorder. The implications for clinical practice are discussed and guidelines for further research are outlined.

M.A. / "Child abuse and neglect is a serious and growing problem. In 1994, the South African Police Service's Child Protection Unit dealt with 22911 cases of child abuse, which represents a 36% increase over the previous year" (Staatskoerant, no. 18166:60). Seksuele mishandeling van kinders is 'n verskynsel wat wereldwyd voorkom en was onlangs in die plaaslike nuus toe 'n vader, wat sy veertienjarige dogter verkrag het, net sewe jaar tronkstraf gekry het omdat - volgens die regter - die samelewing nie teen hom beskerm hoef to word nie (Beeld, 1999/10/07: 11). Die rede wat regter Foxcroft aangevoer het, was dat verkragting binne gesinsverband nie so ernstig is soos verkragting deur 'n vreemdeling nie. Die feit dat 'n kind seksueel deur sy eie ouers mishandel word is egter soveel erger, want, indien 'n kind deur 'n vreemdeling verkrag word, het die kind steeds familielede wat ondersteuning bied. Maar indien die kind deur sy/haar ouers seksueel misbruik word, kan by/sy nerens gaan vir ondersteuning nie. Nog 'n skokkende gebeurtenis wat die voorblaaie van menige plaaslike koerante gehaal het, was die verkragting van 'n nege maande oue baba deur ses mans tussen die ouderdom van 23 en 66 jaar (Beeld, 2001/10/29: 2). Enkele dae later is die verkragting van 'n veertien maande oue baba dogtertjie van Tweeling in die Oos Vrystaat aangemeld. Sy is vermoedelik deur twee mans, onderskeidelik 34 en 37 jaar oud, verkrag (Beeld, 2001/10/31: 2). Ten spyte van die openbare en professionele aandag wat seksuele mishandeling ontvang het, is daar steeds baie min Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing aangaande die fenomeen gedoen (McKendrick en Hoffman, 1991:227-228). Die navorser is van mening dat, indien door inligting ingesamel word aangaande die seksueel mishandelde kind, kan kinders wat 'n risiko loop om deur hul ouers seksueel mishandel te word, vroegtydig geidentifiseer word. In hierdie verhandeling goon daar gefokus word op die seksuele mishandeling van kinders soos dit in akademiese literatuur na yore tree. 'n Klein komponent van die studie behels onderhoude oor hierdie verskynsel wat gevoer is met agt hulpverleners by Johannesburgse kinderhuise en hierdie inligting is gebruik om die mate van kongruensie tussen literatuur en enkele Suid- Afrikaanse empiriese voorbeelde, te bepaal. Die onderhoude is dus gevoer met die doel om, aan die hand van die persepsies van hulpverleners in enkele kinderhuise, te sien in welke mate die Suid Afrikaanse situasie ooreenstem met die literatuur. Met behulp van hierdie inligting hoop die navorser om 'n duideliker beeld daar te stel van kinders wat 'n risiko loop om seksueel mishandel te word en dot die teoretiese gevolgtrekkings wat gemaak is uit die studie, gebruik kan word in opleidingsprogramme vir hulpverleners en moontlik ook as basis vir verdere navorsing. Verder moet dit bydra tot kennis vermeerdering in die veld van Sosiologie. Verder sal dit ook bydra tot sosiologiese teorie en konsepte.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW) / Children react differently to the traumatic incidence of sexual abuse. Some children develop symptomatic behaviours associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in reaction to sexual abuse, such as apathy, which is a form of desensitisation. Others appear less affected by the sexual abuse and may also be regarded as desensitised and possessing resilience. Incongruence thus exists, as the one may be taken incorrectly for the other. Many children enter alternative care settings after being sexually abused, and are cared for by caregivers other than their natural parents. These caregivers interact with the children regularly and their perceptions may provide valuable insight into desensitisation among these children. This study set out to explore caregivers' perceptions on desensitisation among children who had been sexually abused. The study is explorative and descriptive in nature and grounded in a qualitative design. Purposive sampling was used to form three focus groups. The focus group interviews yielded data that was transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. The findings arrived at were written up, presented and discussed. The findings were recommended to be used to inform social workers and other members of the helping professions on how to approach and interact with caregivers of sexually abused children in the future, and to influence perceptions they might hold. Further recommendations were made to better design and implement future studies.

M.A. / Child sexual abuse is a phenomenon that affects children all over the world. Over the past years we have seen an increase in child sexual abuse cases being reported (Richter and Dawes (2008). Parents and professionals are all concerned about children's safety, and the alarming number of cases reported daily makes it an even more difficult and destructive phenomenon to deal with. The South African government have gone to great lengths to put measures in place to protect our children. The new Child Care Act (act 38 of 2005) which came into effect in 2008, acknowledge certain rights of children, sets out principles relating to the care and protection of children, defines parental responsibilities and rights, and it makes provision for matters such as children's courts, adoption, child abduction and surrogate motherhood. There are currently scores of literature on child sexual abuse, but hardly any could be found that specifically relate to the non-abusive mothers and their experiences. The aims of the current study are: 1) to explore the lived experiences of non-abusive mothers whose children have been sexually abused by their intimate male partners, and 2) to add to the discourse of sexual abuse within the South African context. It is imperative to understand the experiences of non-abusive mothers, as this will provide new insights into our understanding of a phenomenon like child sexual abuse. The investigation elicited some of the common themes, thoughts and feelings, which describe the experiences that non-abusive mothers share. In order to conceptualise the experiences of non-abusive mothers, this study drew upon an existential phenomenological framework. This framework is useful, as it allows for mothers' own subjective experiences, and their own interpretations and understanding of these experiences to come to the fore, as opposed to the researcher's understanding of the non-abusive mothers' experiences. Non-abusive mothers seem to go through a similar process as those who grief the loss of a loved one, or who has experienced some kind of loss in their lives. This study elicited some of the themes that correspond with this process of grief. The experience for each of the mothers has been different; however there are commonalities in the way in which they describe their experiences. It would seem that non-abusive mothers experience an intense and overwhelming sense of loss, anger, disbelief, blame, shock, guilt, and depression.