What are the understood and experienced psycho-social impacts of childhood sexual abuse in the adult lives of suburban, single working mothers?
Creators: name: Lim, Darling-Jane
Publisher: name: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Year: 2019
Subjects: sexual abuse
child sexual abuse
single mother
lived experiences
family violence
survivors
women
domestic violence
challenges
abuse victims

description: This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of fifteen women survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and how they understand the impact of this abuse on their adult lives. The study illuminates the broader, socio-economic factors the women survivors face in their society, such as violence, discrimination and gender inequality, amongst other challenges. The aims of the research were: to provide a space for women to tell their life stories after their experiences, to develop an understanding of women's experiences of CSA and an appreciation of the social influences that impact on them; to recommend specialist support services for women who have experienced CSA and appropriate policy changes to address socio-economic disadvantage; and to be able to add to the available knowledge and pave new pathways for continuing to uphold the human rights of children in Australia and globally. This study utilizes a feminist-based phenomenological methodology and the methods of narrative interviews and thematic analysis of the participants' accounts of their lived experiences after CSA. The participants were employed, single mothers, living in the western region of metropolitan Melbourne, an area of low socio-economic status. Six themes emerged from the findings of this study: 1) The psychological and emotional impact of CSA (such as low self-esteem and shame, anger, emotional exhaustion, feelings of grief and loss, and isolation and loneliness); 2) The impact on intimate relationships (such as the loss of trust and feelings of betrayal); 3) Impact on work relationships (repeated patterns of abuse in the workplace, and the challenges of balancing motherhood and work); 4) Challenges faced by the women (that are related to gender inequality, discrimination, stigmatization and other forms of social injustice within their communities); 5) Factors that would improve quality of life and facilitate healing (justice for perpetrators, appropriate trauma-informed mental health support and financial stability); and 6) The subjective benefits of research participation (contributing positively to the lives of other women, viewing the research space as therapeutic and empowering, and the interview process being painful-effortful but rewarding, healing and growth facilitating). Recommendations and implications that emerged include: 1) The implementation of more specific judicial and supportive legislation for victims of CSA; 2) Availability of mental health support for vulnerable populations; 3) CSA-specific qualifications of mental health supporters; 4) Community awareness of available resources; 5) Development of government prevention policies; 6) State and federal government responsibility for social inclusion policy implementation; 7) Appropriate therapeutic support models; and 8) Appropriate research methodology for empowering this population of women.