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

Abstract

This scoping literature review reports on the major themes to emerge from 23 retrospective studies on the trauma-causing dynamics experienced by women survivors of a historical childhood sexual abuse (CSA) trauma. We identified the studies from searching the following data bases for the period 1983–2016: EbscoHost (Academic Search Premiere, Africa-Wide Information, E-Journals, ERIC, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, SocINDEX), SAePublications, Science Direct, CrossRef (APA PsycNET), Google scholar (ResearchGate), PubMed Central, and Cochrane Reviews. For the selection criteria, we included empirical studies on self-reported trauma-causing dynamics experienced by women survivors, without restriction on method of study. Results from the thematic analysis of findings suggest the women survivors appear to be living with historical traumatic sexualisation, betrayal of trust, social stigmatisation, powerlessness, developmental arrest, and revictimisation. Historical traumas should be considered in counselling support interventions with women self-reporting CSA.

Keywords:

• childhood sexual abuse
• scoping literature review
• trauma-causing dynamics
• women survivors