Ritual Abuse Survivors’ Perspectives on Research Participation: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Online Study

ABSTRACT

This exploratory study sought a deeper understanding of the perspectives of self-defined ritual abuse (RA) survivors, who had experienced sexual victimization, on participation in research. A mixed-methods qualitative design involving online survey and follow-up virtual interviews included 68 adults across eight countries. Content and thematic analysis of responses indicated that RA survivors were keen to be involved in a range of research activities to share their experience, knowledge, and support for other survivors. Having a voice, gaining knowledge, and feeling empowered were reported as advantages of participation, while concerns included exploitation, researcher ignorance, and emotional dysregulation caused by content discussed. To enable their engagement in the future research, RA survivors identified participative research designs, anonymity, and increased opportunities for inclusion in decision-making.

KEYWORDS:

• Ritual abuse
• definition
• survivors
• research participation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical standards and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Laurie Matthew

Laurie Matthew is the Director of Eighteen and Under, Dundee, Scotland.

Ian Barron

Ian Barron is the Director for the Center for International Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. MA, USA