Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Robin A. Friedman

Abstract

AbstractDespite the existence of extensive research on child sexual abuse (CSA) for heterosexual women, lesbian women remain an understudied population, particularly regarding their lived experiences of resilience and intimacy as adult CSA survivors. While researchers have considered the uniqueness of the lived experience of the heterosexual female CSA survivor, consideration must also be given to the unique lived experiences of the lesbian CSA survivor. Such knowledge contributes to an increased understanding of resilience and intimacy for these survivors, further advancing the understanding for practitioners regarding these complex dynamics. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of resilience and intimacy for adult lesbian survivors of CSA. The conceptual framework that guided the study was resilience, which was used to describe the adaptive functioning of the adult survivors of CSA. The data were gathered through semistructured interviews with eight lesbian women between the ages of 35 and 55 who experienced CSA and have been in a same sex relationship for at least three months. Moustakas’s transcendental phenomenological approach was used to explore and analyze the experiences of the adult women. Five themes resulted from the data analysis: nature of support, resilience as a positive influence on intimacy, heightened self-awareness, positive shift in focus, and reaffirmed sexuality. The results of this study can lead to the construction of better assessments and diagnostics for lesbian survivors specific to mental health care. The implications of positive social change are improved therapeutic practices and supportive services for adult lesbian survivors of CSA.

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