Mental contamination (i.e., feelings of dirtiness in the absence of contact with a contaminant) is a potentially important yet understudied factor in posttraumatic psychopathology, particularly for survivors of sexual trauma. Mental contamination has been linked to PTSD symptom severity, negative affect, and coping cross-sectionally and in lab-based paradigms, but research has yet to assess these relationships in ecological contexts. The present study extends previous cross-sectional findings by modelling relationships between mental contamination and posttraumatic psychopathology, emotions, and coping both within-day and from one day to the next. Forty-two female sexual trauma survivors completed twice-daily assessments of mental contamination, PTSD symptoms, negative emotions, and avoidant/approach coping via a smartphone app. Daily averages and intraindividual changes in mental contamination scores were linked with PTSD symptoms at the same timepoint. Mental contamination also significantly predicted several specific avoidant coping strategies at later timepoints in addition to concurrent links. Unexpectedly, several negative emotions exhibited positive links with concurrent mental contamination but were negatively linked to later mental contamination. Exploratory analyses identified a significant interaction whereby elevated morning negative affect predicted evening reductions in mental contamination, but only for individuals also high in morning PTSD symptoms. Lastly, prevalence of reported baseline mental contamination was much higher in the present study compared to prior research. Clinical relevance and future recommendations for ecological research in trauma-related mental contamination is discussed.

Bakgrund: Sexuellt våld är ett globalt samhällsproblem. Kvinnor som utsätts för sexuellt övergrepp påverkar deras hälsa och kan leda till sjukdomar senare i livet. Studier visar att kvinnors upplever en negativ attityd från samhället när det söker hjälp. Sjuksköterskan har en viktig roll i bemötandet av kvinnorna och ett ansvar att vägleda till god livskvalitet och ett välbefinnande i frånvaro av lidande. Genom ökad kunskap och förståelse för kvinnors upplevelser kan bidra till ett bättre stöd från sjuksköterskan. Syfte Syftet var att beskriva kvinnors upplevelser efter att ha varit utsatta för sexuella övergrepp. ​​ Metod: En litteraturöversikt utifrån tio vetenskapliga artiklar som analyserades genom Fribergs analysmodell. Databaserna CINAHL Complete och PsycInfo användes. Nio artiklar var kvalitativa och en kvantitativ. Resultat: Resultatet har sammanfattats i tre huvudteman: Fysiska och psykiska symtom, Kvinnors erfarenheter av att hantera trauma efter sexuellt övergrepp. Kvinnors erfarenheter av självbeskyllning och bemötande i samhället. Subtema: Identifiera, förstå, acceptera och att finna mening samt Att berätta och Skam och självbeskylling och Stigma leder till isolering. Sammanfattning: Kvinnor som blivit utsatta för sexuellt övergrepp har ett behov att våga berätta om sitt trauma. Att isolera sig från omvärlden påverkar kvinnorna så väl fysiskt som psykiskt. Kvinnor upplevde en negativ attityd från samhälle vilket påverkar kvinnorna till att inte våga berätta. Det framkom olika strategier för att kunna fungera i vardagen, strategier som däremot inte hjälper kvinnan att läka från trauma. / Background: Sexual violence is a global social problem. Women who are sexually assaulted affect their health and can lead to diseases later in life. Studies show that women experience a negative attitude from society when they seek help. The nurse has an important role in the treatment of the woman and a responsibility to guide them to good quality of life and a well-being in the absence of suffering. Through increased knowledge and understanding of women´s experiences can contribute to better support from the nurse. Aim Purpose of this literature overview is to describe women´s experiences after being exposed to sexual abuse. Method: Literature overview based on ten scientific articles which have been analyzed using Friberg’s analysis methodology. Databases CINAHL Complete and PsycInfo. Nine articles were qualitative and one was quantitative. Results: The result has been summarized in three parts: Physical and mental symptoms and Women’s experiences handling trauma after sexuala buse and Women’s experiences of self-blame and society’s role. Subcategories: Identification, understanding acceptance and purpose and To tell and Shame and self-blaming and Stigma leading to social isolation Summary: Woman who have been exposed to sexual abuse have a need to dare to talk about their trauma. Isolating oneself from the outside society affects woman both physically and mentally. Woman experienced a negative attitude from society, which affects them to not dare to tell. Different strategies emerged to be able to function in everyday life, strategies that do not help the woman to heal from trauma.

Dissociation is commonly associated with sexual crimes or other forms of trauma where a person experienced a threat to the existence or survival of the self. During dissociation the ego may split in such a way that ego-states (subselves or segments of the greater personality) form to encapsulate feelings of guilt, pain, fear, and anger. If dissociation is severe, sufferers will have no conscious recollection of the sexual trauma as it is deeply repressed in the subconscious. This may result in symptoms/pathology later in life. Research indicated that hypnosis (due to its dissociative nature) is favourable as treatment modality for pathology/symptomatology associated with trauma and dissociation. This research study investigates the development of ego-states during experiences of sexual trauma and hypnosis (especially Medical Hypno-analysis and Ego-State Therapy) as effective treatment modality within the field of psycho-education. It proposes a hypnotherapy model where the diagnostic tools as indicated by the Medical Hypno-analysis model, are being used to determine the existence of repressed memories related to sexual trauma. The therapeutic processes as indicated by the Ego-State Therapy model, are being used to resolve and work through the core repressed traumatic experiences through the mobilization of associated and related ego-states. This study presents four case studies and discusses their clinical diagnostic procedures and therapeutic processes. The case studies illustrate that certain symptomatology/pathology experienced later in life may be the result of repressed memories and the formation of maladapted ego-states earlier in life when sexual trauma was experienced. Highly charged emotional and negative beliefs were set in the ego-states and could only be disarmed from their destructive content through regressions and hypnotherapy. A detailed discussion of the proposed hypnotherapy model and its application and concerns regarding its application within the field of psycho-education are also presented. The results of this study indicate that the proposed hypnotherapy model (the combination of Medical Hypno-analysis and Ego-State Therapy) can be used effectively and successfully when working with survivors and symptomatology/pathology associated with sexual crimes. / Educational Studies / D. Ed.

Dissociation is commonly associated with sexual crimes or other forms of trauma where a person experienced a threat to the existence or survival of the self. During dissociation the ego may split in such a way that ego-states (subselves or segments of the greater personality) form to encapsulate feelings of guilt, pain, fear, and anger. If dissociation is severe, sufferers will have no conscious recollection of the sexual trauma as it is deeply repressed in the subconscious. This may result in symptoms/pathology later in life. Research indicated that hypnosis (due to its dissociative nature) is favourable as treatment modality for pathology/symptomatology associated with trauma and dissociation. This research study investigates the development of ego-states during experiences of sexual trauma and hypnosis (especially Medical Hypno-analysis and Ego-State Therapy) as effective treatment modality within the field of psycho-education. It proposes a hypnotherapy model where the diagnostic tools as indicated by the Medical Hypno-analysis model, are being used to determine the existence of repressed memories related to sexual trauma. The therapeutic processes as indicated by the Ego-State Therapy model, are being used to resolve and work through the core repressed traumatic experiences through the mobilization of associated and related ego-states. This study presents four case studies and discusses their clinical diagnostic procedures and therapeutic processes. The case studies illustrate that certain symptomatology/pathology experienced later in life may be the result of repressed memories and the formation of maladapted ego-states earlier in life when sexual trauma was experienced. Highly charged emotional and negative beliefs were set in the ego-states and could only be disarmed from their destructive content through regressions and hypnotherapy. A detailed discussion of the proposed hypnotherapy model and its application and concerns regarding its application within the field of psycho-education are also presented. The results of this study indicate that the proposed hypnotherapy model (the combination of Medical Hypno-analysis and Ego-State Therapy) can be used effectively and successfully when working with survivors and symptomatology/pathology associated with sexual crimes. / Educational Studies / D. Ed.

Sexual trauma within the military is a widespread issue, and rape myth acceptance has been shown to contribute to its prevalence. Given that the military culture has been shown to lend itself to hypermasculinity and traditional gender role adherence, both of which facilitate aggression toward women, this effect warrants investigation within a military sample. The present study replicated and expanded upon Aosved and Long's (2006) study examining 85 veteran and active duty military members' responses on the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, Attitudes Toward Women Scale (short form), Neosexism Scale, Male Role Norms Inventory (short form), Modern and Old Fashioned Racism Scale, Modern Homophobia Scale, a modified version of the Economic Belief Scale, Fraboni Scale of Ageism, Religious Intolerance Scale, and the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (short form). Findings provide support for the co-occurrence of rape myth acceptance with intolerant attitudes, including sexism, hypermasculine gender role ideology, racism, sexual prejudice, classism, ageism, and religious intolerance, both individually and collectively. These results provide insight into the functioning of intolerant attitudes within a military sample, and provide important insight for future research addressing the association between rape myth acceptance and rape proclivity and the perpetration of military sexual assault.

No description available.

While the concepts and imagery presented here are not autobiographical, there is no way to fully detach lived experience from the process of making and theorizing this work. And although its impetus is a lifelong journey of healing, the focus here is transforming the inhabitance of trauma into an awareness of embodied presence. From a space of reflexivity, Inhabitance asks you to come back to your body through heart-minded creative action. This practice-based interdisciplinary methodology integrates the emancipatory powers of women and gender studies, consciousness studies and art. Through this hybrid approach, Inhabitance creates space for reconciling an imposed fracture between the sensory and cognitive aspects of our lives to rewrite the restrictive narrative that trauma can hold over both. / Doctor of Philosophy / While the concepts and imagery presented here are not autobiographical, there is no way to fully detach lived experience from the process of making and theorizing this work. And although its impetus is a lifelong journey of healing, the focus here is transforming the inhabitance of trauma into an awareness of embodied presence. From a space of reflexivity, Inhabitance asks you to come back to your body through heart-minded creative action. This practice-based interdisciplinary methodology integrates the emancipatory powers of women and gender studies, consciousness studies and art. Through this hybrid approach, Inhabitance creates space for reconciling an imposed fracture between the sensory and cognitive aspects of our lives to rewrite the restrictive narrative that trauma can hold over both.

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)