Abstract
Objective: This study aims to document the relational and sexual recovery process of child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Method: Using the framework-based synthesis approach (Dixon-Woods, 2011), a metasynthesis was conducted on qualitative peer-reviewed studies published between 2004 and 2019, focusing on the recovery from relational and sexual outcomes related to CSA experiences. Criteria of inclusion: 1) included self-identified men or women who had sustained sexual abuse in childhood; 2) focused on CSA related relational or sexual outcomes and recovery processes; 3) included a qualitative component incorporating interviews or focus groups; 4) were carried out in Western countries. According to these criteria, a sample of eight articles was constituted. A direct content analysis was performed using The Drive to Move Forward Framework (Ochocka et al., 2005). Results: Findings yielded three main categories that illustrate the relational and sexual recovery process of CSA survivors: 1) The Drive to Move Forward after CSA; 2) Positive Strategies Mobilized to Recover from Relational and Sexual Issues Left by CSA and; 3) Social Circumstances that Facilitate or Hinder the Relational and Sexual Recovery Process. Conclusion: Although their relational and sexual recovery process may involve setbacks, and that they may be confronted with impeding social circumstances, survivors mobilize strategies and social resources to help them move forward after CSA. Implication: In order to help CSA survivors in achieving a satisfying relational and sexual life, providers should adopt a personalized approach that respects their process of relational and sexual recovery and adopt an ecological perspective to better understand the factors that can modulate this process.
Highlights
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is considered as an alarming public health issue (Kendall-Tackett, 2012) causing a wide range of impacts in children, which can persist or even be exacerbated in adulthood (Trickett et al, 2011)
The question that guided analysis in this study was the following: how do CSA survivors recover from relational and sexual issues left by CSA experiences? To answer this question, a direct content analysis (Hiesh & Shannon, 2005) was conducted in light of The Drive to Move Forward Framework (Ochocka et al, 2005)
The relational and sexual recovery process of CSA survivors. This metasynthesis shows that recovering from CSA and the perceived consequences it can generate within intimate relationships and sexuality is a complex dynamic process for survivors
Summary
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is considered as an alarming public health issue (Kendall-Tackett, 2012) causing a wide range of impacts in children, which can persist or even be exacerbated in adulthood (Trickett et al, 2011). A 30year longitudinal study reported several outcomes in adult survivors of CSA, such as increased risks of PTSD symptoms, major depression and anxiety disorder, decreased self-esteem and life satisfaction, as well as suicidal ideation or suicide attempt, and alcohol or drug dependence (Fergusson et al, 2013) Regarding their sexuality, CSA survivors are more prone to experiment risky sexual behaviors (Homma et al, 2012), flashbacks during sexual intercourses (Carreiro et al, 2016), sexual avoidance (O’Leary et al, 2017) or compulsivity (Aaron, 2012; Vaillancourt-Morel et al, 2015) and may hold a more negative sexual self-concept (Guyon et al, 2020). Survivors show lower levels of relationship satisfaction (Berthelot et al, 2014), which can lead to difficulties in building lasting healthy relationships
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