Positive Self-Transitions in Women Child Abuse Survivors

Abstract

Clinicians need information about what factors contribute to women child abuse survivors' mental health and success. Most previous research has focused on negative after-effects of abuse, and correlating types and severity of abuse with specific mental and physical problems in adulthood. Two qualitative studies (total N = 55) were done with low-income women survivors of child abuse and neglect from a midwestern inner city area. The majority of these women were African American. All participants were in recovery from substance abuse problems. A secondary analysis of these accounts was done to examine positive life transitions made by these women after experiences of abuse, and throughout adulthood, despite having serious after-effects of abuse. The investigator and research team categorized themes from the narrative data into two processes--epiphanies and maintaining momentum--and six elements constituting the content areas of self-change: self-centering, ownership, interpersonal insulation, willfulness, seeing options, and spiritual connection. Maintaining momentum and shortening the time between epiphanies was found to be central. Tentative clinical implications are discussed. The study was preliminary in that it was a secondary analysis. Suggestions for further research are outlined.