Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Curilla, Kaylee L.
Language:English
Published: Antioch University / OhioLINK 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1422547643
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-antioch14225476432021-08-03T06:29:05Z Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse Curilla, Kaylee L. Clinical Psychology child sexual abuse resiliency young old adult aging aging process early experience interpretive phenomenological analysis This qualitative dissertation project explored how young-old adults have healed from the traumatic experience of being sexually abused in childhood. This project utilized an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyze themes across the young-old adults’ responses. Data collection consisted of interviewing six participants (age 51-58) who have had a history of child sexual abuse (CSA) from a loved one or other trusted individual and have felt that they have healed and demonstrated resiliency from the experience. Ten general themes emerged: (a) Getting older has helped me develop a better understanding and helped me to become less emotionally reactive; (b) After the abuse, I went through a period in which I felt unworthy and that I was at fault; (c) After the abuse, I went through a period where I was sexually active to fill a void; (d) It is difficult to make meaning out of something so terrible; (e) As a child, I didn’t have anyone who was supportive after the abuse event; (f) As an adult, at least one primary relationship was essential in my healing; (g) Talking about my experience was important in my healing; (h) Finding out “I wasn’t alone” was essential in my healing; (i) Helping others has been essential in my healing process; (j) I’ve experienced typical physical changes as a result of the aging process. Although all participants reported having no one to turn to for support as a child, each participant indicated that at least one primary relationship in adulthood was imperative in their healing. Additionally, each participant indicated that getting older had led them to greater understanding and helped them to become less reactive. 2015-10-05 English text Antioch University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1422547643 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1422547643 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Clinical Psychology
child sexual abuse
resiliency
young old adult
aging
aging process
early experience
interpretive phenomenological analysis
spellingShingle Clinical Psychology
child sexual abuse
resiliency
young old adult
aging
aging process
early experience
interpretive phenomenological analysis
Curilla, Kaylee L.
Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse
author Curilla, Kaylee L.
author_facet Curilla, Kaylee L.
author_sort Curilla, Kaylee L.
title Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse
title_short Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse
title_full Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse
title_fullStr Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse
title_full_unstemmed Resilience to Trauma throughout the Lifespan: Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse
title_sort resilience to trauma throughout the lifespan: overcoming child sexual abuse
publisher Antioch University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2015
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1422547643
work_keys_str_mv AT curillakayleel resiliencetotraumathroughoutthelifespanovercomingchildsexualabuse
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