Social Work Commons^™

Journeys After Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Phenomenological Study In A Frontier Region, Brittany R. Wienholz

Brittany R Wienholz

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive form of interpersonal trauma affecting about 10% of the U.S. population. Like other forms of interpersonal trauma, sexual abuse during childhood has been associated with detrimental effects on survivors’ well being. This exploratory phenomenological study utilized open-ended interviews with nine adults, ages 21 and older, to gain a deeper understanding of survivors’ journeys after CSA in a western frontier region of the United States. Themes within survivor narratives will be analyzed from an ecological systems perspective, providing insight to professionals, benefits to survivors and implications for future research.