Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Michael Schwab

Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can result in consequences that are devastating and long lasting. Differences in the nature of CSA for males and females potentially influence recovery and the role of moderating factors, such as spirituality. Studies of recovery from CSA, especially men's experiences of recovery, are relatively few indicating that this is an under researched area. This lack of studies is particularly evident for ethnic minority groups. While addressing the gap in the literature, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of recovery from CSA among African, Caribbean, Black identified male survivors of CSA living in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the role of spirituality in that recovery. The transactional model of stress and coping and the four domains model of spiritual health and well-being were used as frameworks for this examination. The study was qualitative in design, using an interpretive phenomenological approach, involving purposeful sampling, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and interpretive phenomenological analysis of the data. The most salient feature of the study was that Black male survivors are situated in unique historical/sociocultural interrelationships that complicate recovery from CSA, including institutional racism and discrimination, family migration, restrictive narratives of masculinity, sexualized music media, and other cultural norms. In this study, spirituality played a prominent role in helping survivors navigate such influences in order to recover. These findings can be used to influence policy makers, service providers and communities, to more effectively support and address the needs of CSA survivors and their affected families.

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