Childhood sexual abuse trauma-causing dynamics experienced by women survivors: A scoping literature review

Henning, Marinda; Walker-Williams, Hayley J.; Fouché, Ansie

doi:10.1080/14330237.2018.1455309

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Our results indicate that sexual abuse and neglect have a stronger impact, in terms of being associated with a larger range of internalizing symptoms, compared to that of physical abuse. This may be related to the finding that physical abuse affects anger-dysregulation [ 61 ], whereas sexual abuse and neglect may enhance feelings of worth- and powerlessness, shame and guilt [ 62 ] and thus, more related to the development of internalizing symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internalizing Symptoms Among Youth in Foster Care: Prevalence and Associations with Exposure to Maltreatment

Moussavi

Wergeland

Bøe

et al. 2021

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev

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Among youth in foster care (N = 303, aged 11–17 years), we investigated prevalence of internalizing symptoms; associations between symptom level and maltreatment types and numbers; and the interaction between gender and maltreatment, on internalizing symptoms. Youth completed Spence Children Anxiety Scale, Short Mood Feelings Questionnaire, and Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen. Compared to community samples, symptom levels above clinical cut-off was more frequent, with social- and generalized anxiety (ES = 0.78–0.88) being most prevalent among youth in foster care. Girls reported more internalizing symptoms (ES = 0.59–0.93). Sexual abuse and neglect were associated with a broader range of internalizing symptoms (ES = 0.35–0.64). Increased incidence of maltreatment was associated with increased levels of symptoms (ES = 0.21–0.22). Associations between maltreatment and symptom level were stronger for girls. This study stresses the importance of broad screening of maltreatment and internalizing symptoms to meet the needs of youth in foster care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internalizing Symptoms Among Youth in Foster Care: Prevalence and Associations with Exposure to Maltreatment

Moussavi

Wergeland

Bøe

et al. 2021

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev

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“…This is an important distinction because although the phenomenon of betrayal trauma has been well-researched (see Freyd et al, 2007, for a review), emotional betrayal from betrayal trauma (such as child sexual abuse) is less examined in the literature, particularly in terms of its influence on later pathology, therapeutic alliance, or overall healing process. Although feelings of betrayal may arise in any abuse experience, regardless of whether the abuser is a close family member (higher betrayal trauma) or a stranger (lower betrayal trauma), high betrayal traumas are associated with increased negative psychological sequelae (Freyd & Birrell, 2013; Hurst, 1999; Noll, 2021), and emotional betrayal (Henning et al, 2018; Noll et al, 2003; O’Rinn et al, 2013; Rudd & Herzberger, 1999). However, emotional betrayal has been shown to predict PTSD symptoms even when abuse characteristics are controlled for in analyses (Cantón-Cortés, et al, 2011).…”

Section: Description Of the Emotional Betrayal From Child Sexual Abus...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional Betrayal From Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBSCAM): A psychometric analysis.

Wolf¹,

Linn²,

Butler³

2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of a new scale, the Emotional Betrayal from Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBCSAM), which assesses feelings of betrayal in adult survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). Emotional betrayal is examined with respect to the perpetrator as well as others in the survivor's immediate environment (i.e., family, friends, etc.) during the time of the abuse. Method: A sample of 342 CSA survivors were anonymously surveyed online in order to examine the psychometric properties of the EBCSAM. Results: The original 16-item measure did not produce a good-fitting model, nor was it considered reliable or valid. Instead, a shortened six-item measure produced a successful model, was reliable (overall Cronbach's α = .85), and exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses suggested two valid latent subscales (Perpetrator Betrayal and Environmental Betrayal). Conclusion: This measure could be useful to clinicians treating survivors of child sexual abuse, as well as researchers, to reveal and evaluate aspects of emotional betrayal that impacted survivors. Clinical Impact StatementThis study examined a new measure called "Emotional Betrayal from Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBCSAM)," which gauged the feelings of betrayal in adult survivors of child sexual abuse, both in terms of feeling betrayed by the environment, and betrayed by the perpetrator of their abuse. This measure yields a reliable clinical picture of the client who feels betrayed, as well as the environment that allowed the abuse to happen to the client as a child and can be used for clinical assessment (and therapeutic treatment) of adult survivors of child sexual abuse.

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“…Conversely, few qualitative studies have documented the relational and sexual impacts of CSA in light of this model. The results from the thematic analysis of a scoping review from 23 retrospective studies on trauma-causing dynamics revealed that women survivors experience traumatic sexualization, betrayal of trust, social stigmatization, powerlessness, as well as revictimization (Henning, Walker-Williams, & Fouché, 2018). More specifically, traumatic sexualization was also investigated among adult South African women who had experienced CSA.…”

Section: The Impacts Of Csa: the Traumagenic Dynamics Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the high risk of revictimization in CSA victims (Finkelhor & Browne, 1985), interventions should target revictimization, especially among women who have an attachment pattern characterized by dependency and abandonment anxiety that can lead them to tolerate inadequate behaviors from their partners. Interventions should help CSA victims to develop their self-agency (i.e., their capacity to act and take position), which constitutes a key element in the management of their romantic relationships (Henning et al, 2018) and can help reduce the risk of revictimization (Krahé & Berger, 2017). Moreover, intervention programs should also rely on buffering factors recognized among childhood trauma victims, like social support from friends and family (Evans, Steel, & DiLillo, 2013), to lessen revictimization in subsequent romantic relationships of CSA victims (Gobin & Freyd, 2009).…”

Section: Implications For Research and Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

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Relational and Sexual Experiences of Betrayal From the Point of View of Sexually Victimized Young Women

Guyon

Hébert

2019

J Interpers Violence

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Worldwide, it is estimated that one in five women have reported being sexually victimized before the age of 18. Girls are particularly at risk of sexual abuse at the end of adolescence and are more vulnerable to revictimization during this period. However, there is a paucity of findings related to the relational and sexual impacts of child sexual abuse among young women. The traumagenic dynamics model, proposed by Finkelhor and Browne, postulates that the consequences of sexual abuse can be analyzed in light of four distinct dynamics: traumatic sexualization, betrayal, powerlessness, and stigmatization. Among the four postulated dynamics, betrayal appears to be a key element to gain insight on the relational challenges experienced by victims, as betrayal situations can recur in romantic relationships. The present study aimed to describe, from the point of view of young women victims of child sexual abuse, the issues related to betrayals in their relational and sexual experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 young women aged 18 to 25 years old who had reported sexual victimization. Two main conceptual categories emerged from the narratives of the participants: (a) relational situations that echo the betrayal dynamic and (b) strategies to cope with relational situations involving betrayal: protection, reparation, and the use of both strategies, which leads to ambivalence. Findings highlight the importance of addressing the traumagenic dynamic of betrayal in interventions with sexually abuse youths, given their likelihood to experience betrayal in the context of romantic relationships and their increased risk of revictimization.

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Childhood sexual abuse trauma-causing dynamics experienced by women survivors: A scoping literature review

Cited by 4 publications

References 31 publications

Internalizing Symptoms Among Youth in Foster Care: Prevalence and Associations with Exposure to Maltreatment

Internalizing Symptoms Among Youth in Foster Care: Prevalence and Associations with Exposure to Maltreatment

Emotional Betrayal From Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBSCAM): A psychometric analysis.

Relational and Sexual Experiences of Betrayal From the Point of View of Sexually Victimized Young Women

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