scholarly journals Understanding the childbirth experiences of childhood sexual abuse survivors: a phenomenological study

Author(s):  
Caitlin Mathewson

This study describes the childbirth experiences of survivors of childhood sexual abuse using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Data collection involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews of four women who gave birth to a baby within the last five years. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, three superordinate themes emerged: control, anxiety, and detachment. This contributes to the current body of research by extending knowledge on what it means to experience childbirth for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, told by the woman herself. These findings are especially important in understanding what is required in providing safe, sensitive care for all childbearing women, and has important implications for practice, education, and further research.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Mathewson

This study describes the childbirth experiences of survivors of childhood sexual abuse using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Data collection involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews of four women who gave birth to a baby within the last five years. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, three superordinate themes emerged: control, anxiety, and detachment. This contributes to the current body of research by extending knowledge on what it means to experience childbirth for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, told by the woman herself. These findings are especially important in understanding what is required in providing safe, sensitive care for all childbearing women, and has important implications for practice, education, and further research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-39
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Anyfioti ◽  
Maria Luca

This article is based on a larger interpretative phenomenological study exploring the lived experience of women who have faced unresolved infertility, and which aimed to understand and interpret the meaning of infertility, its emotional implications, and the coping mechanisms of sufferers. The five participants were women who faced primary infertility, whilst being with a partner, having undergone treatment, and who had not encountered (at least initially) other handicaps critical to their infertility. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews and the narratives were analysed using Smith’s Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA). The four superordinate themes identified were: (1) meaning of motherhood; (2) being in treatment; (3) consciously facing infertility; and (4) moving on. Due to word count limitations, this article only focuses on: “meaning of motherhood” and “consciously facing infertility”, with the intention to publish a different article to address the remaining two themes. The combination of themes was determined by considering how to wholesomely present the most essential aspects of the narrative as related to us by the participants. The themes included in this article explore how archetypical beliefs about motherhood and fertility help define cultural, societal, and personal expectations, and in turn affect the magnitude and intensity of infertility’s psychological impact. The findings emphasise the complexity of the phenomenon and how it can impinge on all aspects of life. Sufferers were found to experience complex loss, relating to their identity and self-esteem, life purpose, but also relationships and social integration. These profound psychological effects can be particularly long lasting due to the lifelong nature of the phenomenon but also the shame and secrecy surrounding it.


2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karni Ginzburg ◽  
Cheryl Koopman ◽  
Oxana Palesh ◽  
Lisa D. Butler ◽  
Helena C. Kraemer ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110219
Author(s):  
Aiala Szyfer Lipinsky ◽  
Limor Goldner

Studies dealing with the experiences of non-offending mothers from the general population and minority groups after their child’s disclosure of sexual abuse are scarce, and studies on mothers from the Jewish ultra-Orthodox community are non-existent. This study takes an initial step in filling this gap by exploring how the normalization of sexual abuse shapes these mothers’ experiences. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted on a sample of 21 mothers from the ultra-Orthodox sector whose children had been sexually abused. It consisted of in-depth, semi-structured interviews of the mothers followed by a drawing task on their experience. The analysis of the interviews yielded four central themes: the role of social stigmatization and religion on the mother’s ability to share her child’s abuse; the effect of the disclosure on the mothers’ mental state and maternal competency; the mothers’ ongoing experience in the shadow of this unprocessed/unresolved trauma; and the mothers’ coping strategies, including acceptance, faith, and meaning making. The findings highlight the influence of the tension between the need to adhere to religious norms and preserve the social fabric and the need to enhance mothers’ and children’s well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S715-S715
Author(s):  
Chigozie A Nkwonta ◽  
Monique Brown ◽  
Titilayo James ◽  
Amandeep Kaur

Abstract Background Intersectional stigma is based upon co-occurring and intersecting identities or conditions and occurs at multiple levels of influence. Intersectional stigma has been repeatedly associated with poor health behaviors and outcomes. The effect of intersectional stigma among older adults are particularly challenging due to issues related to ageism, loss of social support, and comorbidities. We examined the impact of multiple stigmas on older adults living with HIV who are victims of childhood sexual abuse. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposefully selected heterogeneous sample of 24 adults living with HIV who are 50 years and older in South Carolina. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using thematic analysis. Results Participants shared experiences and perceptions of stigma and discrimination most commonly related to their HIV status and sexuality at the interpersonal/familial and community levels. Four themes emerged to explain the impact of intersectional stigma: depression, lack of HIV disclosure, limited support, and reduced intimacy. Conclusion The complexity of multiple stigmas profoundly shapes life experiences, opportunities, and mental health of older adults living with HIV. This study highlights that public health programs need to consider the impact of intersectional stigma in order to promote the wellbeing of and improve quality of life for older adults living with HIV. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabella S. K. Fung

Music draws on body, space, time and relationships to offer a sacred experience. Musicking makes personal, social, emotional and spiritual connections with people. Cultural identity is formed through the arts, and the spirituality in music is a medium through which people explore their identities. This study examines how music facilitates the holistic development of two Melbourne-born Chinese-Australian Christian musicians. The Confucian Evolving Self Model, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs, and music education aims offer conceptualising scaffolds to illuminate their self-discovery. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to report on multiple semi-structured interviews undertaken over three years. This study considered the interaction of various value systems – the fusion of Confucianism, Christian and psychological cultures in the process of musical development and identity formation. It fills a research gap and complements existing approaches to understanding the social contexts influencing the acquisition of musical skills and musicians’ occupational choices. The permissive parenting that both participants experienced might account for them being able to follow a career in music without familial resistance. The current findings can advocate for music education because the spiritual aspects of musical experiences were perceived as a mirror in fostering the holistic development of both participants.


1995 ◽  
Vol 167 (5) ◽  
pp. 679-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick F. Sullivan ◽  
Cynthia M. Bulik ◽  
Frances A. Carter ◽  
Peter R. Joyce

BackgroundChildhood sexual abuse (CSA) is found to have occurred to a substantial minority of women with bulimia nervosa. Its clinical significance is unclear.MethodWe studied 87 bulimic women in a clinical trial. Structured interviews determined the presence of CSA, DSM–III–R disorders, global functioning, and depressive and bulimic symptoms.ResultsForty-four per cent reported a history of CSA. Bulimic women with CSA reported earlier onset of bulimia, greater depressive symptoms, worse global functioning and more suicide attempts, and were more likely to meet criteria for bipolar II disorder, alcohol and drug dependence, conduct disorder and avoidant personality disorder.ConclusionsAlthough those with CSA had greater comorbidity, it was not an important modifier of bulimic symptoms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-81
Author(s):  
Harriet Dymond ◽  
Simon Duff

Purpose Research into paedophilia mainly uses offender samples; thus, little is understood about non-offending paedophiles. The limited body of research has been conducted in North America or Europe whose health and legal systems differ from those in the UK. Using semi-structured interviews, the purpose of this study is to explore the experience of three non-offending British paedophilic males. Design/methodology/approach The interview discussed their paedophilia, refraining from offending and perspectives on treatment initiatives. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Three superordinate themes emerged: “paedophilia as more than a sexuality,” “acceptance leads to management” and “barriers to support.” These encapsulated how paedophilia was understood, how accepting one’s sexual attraction is tantamount to well-being and the various obstacles to providing support were discussed. Research limitations/implications Acknowledging the sampling considerations (size and recruitment), the results implicate research into paedophilia. The onset of paedophilia was chronologically associated with typical sexual attraction, and not the result of sexual abuse as some theories suggest. Furthermore, the tenets of attraction to children extending beyond sexual desire were highlighted. Practically, the results influence future research into the area and highlight the dearth in our understanding of diverse behavioural management techniques (i.e. computerised images of children or human-like dolls). Originality/value This paper presents novel insight into the aspects of paedophilia, excluding offensive behaviour and highlights the need for affordable, UK-based services targeted towards people with a paedophilic attraction to manage child sexual abuse preventatively and not reactively.


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