title: Living with the Aftermath of Male Child Sexual Abuse

authors: Coveny, Doris

subjects: Child sexual abuse

abstract: Child sexual abuse (CSA) in boys has been shown to have long lasting and devastating effects on men's lives. Negative health outcomes such as anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, poor social skills, destructive lifestyles, and mistrust towards others are only a few of the reported after-effects. Research of CSA is largely focused on girls and women, leaving a relative shortage on men. This qualitative study attempts to add to the dearth of literature in this field by reporting findings from narrative interviews with men who were sexually abused as children. The aim was to investigate how men reconciled their early experiences of CSA with everyday life and their relationships with others. Seven participants of New Zealand European and one participant of Māori descent participated in a loosely structured conversational interview. The study was guided by narrative theory and social constructionist epistemology using thematic narrative analysis to interpret the data. The findings are discussed within seven overarching themes: Shame, guilt, and lost self-identities illustrates how survivors of CSA can become very isolated due to their internalised feelings of inferiority and self-blame.  The participants' inability to share their experiences alienated them from others as much as themselves, which ultimately affected their sense of belonging. CSA instilled feelings of self-loathing and inadequacy as well as it fostered low self-esteem and led to the loss of their self-identity. Anger and hurt - a kind of death/an empty shell highlights the expression of heightened anger resulting from their experiences and isolation. Participants appeared confused, lost and empty without aspirations or hopes for the future. It describes a long process of regaining meaning in life, which some men found in fatherhood despite its challenges. Escaping the pain describes the men's emotional and physical turmoil, which triggered attempts to forget past events. Many participants engaged in violence and substance use, tried to become someone else, or end their life. Damage boils over talks about the participants' memories of their CSA experiences and the associated effects on their daily lives. It demonstrates how CSA can affect men's emotional stability and reactions when situations become too distressing. Mistrust - a place of safety summarises participants' feelings of mistrust towards others and their difficulty to accept forms of authority. It highlights CSA's potential aftermath in regards to interpersonal and romantic relationships as well as over protectiveness towards children.  Social norms and barriers to disclosure discusses the difficulties surrounding disclosure of CSA, spanning both childhood and adulthood. Further, it shows how social norms such as hegemonic masculinity can influence outcomes. From missed opportunities to healing describes regrets about perceived undeveloped talents, educational opportunities, or loss of family. The theme shows how coping mechanisms helped to navigate life and describes the benefits of counselling.

text: Living with the Aftermath of Male Child Sexual Abuse Child sexual abuse (CSA) in boys has been shown to have long lasting and devastating effects on men's lives. Negative health outcomes such as anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, poor social skills, destructive lifestyles, and mistrust towards others are only a few of the reported after-effects. Research of CSA is largely focused on girls and women, leaving a relative shortage on men. This qualitative study attempts to add to the dearth of literature in this field by reporting findings from narrative interviews with men who were sexually abused as children. The aim was to investigate how men reconciled their early experiences of CSA with everyday life and their relationships with others. Seven participants of New Zealand European and one participant of Māori descent participated in a loosely structured conversational interview. The study was guided by narrative theory and social constructionist epistemology using thematic narrative analysis to interpret the data. The findings are discussed within seven overarching themes: Shame, guilt, and lost self-identities illustrates how survivors of CSA can become very isolated due to their internalised feelings of inferiority and self-blame.  The participants' inability to share their experiences alienated them from others as much as themselves, which ultimately affected their sense of belonging. CSA instilled feelings of self-loathing and inadequacy as well as it fostered low self-esteem and led to the loss of their self-identity. Anger and hurt - a kind of death/an empty shell highlights the expression of heightened anger resulting from their experiences and isolation. Participants appeared confused, lost and empty without aspirations or hopes for the future. It describes a long process of regaining meaning in life, which some men found in fatherhood despite its challenges. Escaping the pain describes the men's emotional and physical turmoil, which triggered attempts to forget past events. Many participants engaged in violence and substance use, tried to become someone else, or end their life. Damage boils over talks about the participants' memories of their CSA experiences and the associated effects on their daily lives. It demonstrates how CSA can affect men's emotional stability and reactions when situations become too distressing. Mistrust - a place of safety summarises participants' feelings of mistrust towards others and their difficulty to accept forms of authority. It highlights CSA's potential aftermath in regards to interpersonal and romantic relationships as well as over protectiveness towards children.  Social norms and barriers to disclosure discusses the difficulties surrounding disclosure of CSA, spanning both childhood and adulthood. Further, it shows how social norms such as hegemonic masculinity can influence outcomes. From missed opportunities to healing describes regrets about perceived undeveloped talents, educational opportunities, or loss of family. The theme shows how coping mechanisms helped to navigate life and describes the benefits of counselling.

year: 2017

title: Dr Willem De Lange - Update Report for Mediation

authors: de Lange, Willem P.

abstract: 1 The Te Puru Group, involving 5 properties at the southern end of the Te Puru fan-delta, agreed to engage in ‘without prejudice’ discussions with Council. 
2 I have previously prepared evidence for the Te Puru Group relating to the nature of the coastal hazards affecting their properties and the location of the CEL. A key finding was that the Te Puru fan-delta (an alluvial fan that is prograding into a water body) is an accretionary landform that is continuing to accrete, primarily in response to episodic events (debris flows). In my opinion, accretion is likely to continue in the future. 
3 The Te Puru Group have provided me with a letter to the TCDC, dated 15 September 2016 and marked Without Predjudice, which is attached as Appendix A. I have read this letter, which outlines a number of suggestions to allow specified activities seaward of the CEL by affected landowners. 
4 Subsequent to the hearing, additional data have become available on the evolution of the fan-deltas of the Western Coromandel, including Te Puru. This document summarises the additional data and discusses the implications for the potential shoreline changes at the southern end of Te Puru fan-delta pertinent to the suggestions made in the letter.

text: Dr Willem De Lange - Update Report for Mediation 1 The Te Puru Group, involving 5 properties at the southern end of the Te Puru fan-delta, agreed to engage in ‘without prejudice’ discussions with Council. 
2 I have previously prepared evidence for the Te Puru Group relating to the nature of the coastal hazards affecting their properties and the location of the CEL. A key finding was that the Te Puru fan-delta (an alluvial fan that is prograding into a water body) is an accretionary landform that is continuing to accrete, primarily in response to episodic events (debris flows). In my opinion, accretion is likely to continue in the future. 
3 The Te Puru Group have provided me with a letter to the TCDC, dated 15 September 2016 and marked Without Predjudice, which is attached as Appendix A. I have read this letter, which outlines a number of suggestions to allow specified activities seaward of the CEL by affected landowners. 
4 Subsequent to the hearing, additional data have become available on the evolution of the fan-deltas of the Western Coromandel, including Te Puru. This document summarises the additional data and discusses the implications for the potential shoreline changes at the southern end of Te Puru fan-delta pertinent to the suggestions made in the letter.

year: 2017

title: Te mana o te wahine: Young mothers healthcare experiences in pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood

authors: Kolo, Mia Elaine

subjects: Health

abstract: In Aotearoa-New Zealand being a young mother is often associated with clinical and societal ‘risks.’ Younger women have higher rates of maternal depression and suicide, complications during birth, and their babies are more likely to be born preterm, and of smaller gestational age and weight (Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, 2012; Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, 2023b, 2023a). Research also indicates that young mothers experience stigmatisation and discrimination that they attribute to their age and/or ethnicity (Adcock, 2016; Makowharemahihi et al., 2014; Rawiri, 2007; Ware, 2019).
In discussion with researchers, discrimination was the topic that young mothers at He Puaawai Teen Parent Centre wanted to talk about. They shared a strong desire to see change in the way that doctors, nurses, and midwives service young parents and were passionate about ensuring that future young mothers had more support. Thus, in responding to their call, 22 parents, including two fathers attending (or recent school-leavers of) He Puaawai Teen Parent Centre volunteered to participate in this study. This qualitative kaupapa Māori study employed a series of wānanga, individual kōrero, and an investigator-triangulation thematic analysis. The research questions explored both the positive and negative healthcare experiences of this cohort during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood.
The aim of this study was to listen and learn about the experiences of these young parents and co-design informational and/or educational materials to help healthcare practitioners better understand and support young mothers/parents. To spread awareness of the experiences of these young parents, the co-design materials and findings of this study were disseminated via various healthcare seminars and meetings around the Waikato region. The findings of this study contribute to previous research that revealed over the last 20 years young parents have continued to report predominantly negative experiences in their maternity journey. Participants of this study reported experiences of unsolicited judgement and advice, a general lack of manaakitanga (care, empathy, respect), communication, and support from doctors, nurses, and midwives. The relatively small number of positive experiences shared in this study emphasises the importance of manaakitanga regardless of age. An unexpected finding was the impact that receptionists had on young parents’ healthcare experiences, as the face and entry point of healthcare services.

text: Te mana o te wahine: Young mothers healthcare experiences in pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood In Aotearoa-New Zealand being a young mother is often associated with clinical and societal ‘risks.’ Younger women have higher rates of maternal depression and suicide, complications during birth, and their babies are more likely to be born preterm, and of smaller gestational age and weight (Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, 2012; Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, 2023b, 2023a). Research also indicates that young mothers experience stigmatisation and discrimination that they attribute to their age and/or ethnicity (Adcock, 2016; Makowharemahihi et al., 2014; Rawiri, 2007; Ware, 2019).
In discussion with researchers, discrimination was the topic that young mothers at He Puaawai Teen Parent Centre wanted to talk about. They shared a strong desire to see change in the way that doctors, nurses, and midwives service young parents and were passionate about ensuring that future young mothers had more support. Thus, in responding to their call, 22 parents, including two fathers attending (or recent school-leavers of) He Puaawai Teen Parent Centre volunteered to participate in this study. This qualitative kaupapa Māori study employed a series of wānanga, individual kōrero, and an investigator-triangulation thematic analysis. The research questions explored both the positive and negative healthcare experiences of this cohort during pregnancy, birth, and into motherhood.
The aim of this study was to listen and learn about the experiences of these young parents and co-design informational and/or educational materials to help healthcare practitioners better understand and support young mothers/parents. To spread awareness of the experiences of these young parents, the co-design materials and findings of this study were disseminated via various healthcare seminars and meetings around the Waikato region. The findings of this study contribute to previous research that revealed over the last 20 years young parents have continued to report predominantly negative experiences in their maternity journey. Participants of this study reported experiences of unsolicited judgement and advice, a general lack of manaakitanga (care, empathy, respect), communication, and support from doctors, nurses, and midwives. The relatively small number of positive experiences shared in this study emphasises the importance of manaakitanga regardless of age. An unexpected finding was the impact that receptionists had on young parents’ healthcare experiences, as the face and entry point of healthcare services.

year: 2024