“I Am Not A Victim. I Am A Survivor”: Resilience as a Journey for Female Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to expand our understanding of the positive aspects of coping and resilience in female survivors of child sexual abuse. Research questions focused on women’s lived experiences of being survivors of child sexual abuse and how they have experienced resilience, developed healthy intimate relationships, and viewed themselves as sexual beings. Using a qualitative research lens of phenomenology, we captured the essence of survivors’ experiences of resilience. Although each woman’s experience was unique, similar patterns of processes and outcomes emerged as meaningful in their development of resilient and healthy sexuality and relationship functioning. However, participants emphasized resilience as a process or journey—recovery from trauma, reconceptualization of self, and development of healthy sexuality included deliberate efforts occurring over time. Implications for future research and practice using a positive lens of resilience are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• female
• phenomenology
• qualitative methods
• sexuality

Disclosure of interest

There is no copyrighted material in this manuscript. Kimmery Newsom does not have any financial conflicts of interest regarding this study or its participants. In addition, Karen Myers-Bowman does not have any financial conflicts of interest regarding this study or its participants. There was no funding provided for the data collection of this study.

Ethical standards and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation of the Kansas State University Institutional Review Board (IRB, #7520) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all participants for being included in the study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kimmery Newsom

Kimmery Newsom received her PhD from Kansas State University in Family Studies and Human Services. She is an assistant professor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University Polytechnic.

Karen Myers-Bowman

Karen Myers-Bowman received her PhD from Purdue University in Child Development and Family Studies. She is an associate professor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University.