The Effects of Disclosing Childhood Sexual Abuse on an Adult Survivors' Sense of Self-Esteem, Personal Trauma, and Interpersonal Capabilities

<p>Nineteen survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are receiving services from supportive agencies participated in this study. Counselors from crisis centers and university counseling centers distributed questionnaires to possible participants who disclosed childhood sexual abuse. Perceptions of the first experience of disclosure from the participants were examined, along with the duration of abuse, to find a possible correlation between these variables, current self-esteem levels, levels of trauma, and interpersonal capabilities. Instruments used included the Disclosure of Abuse Scale, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, Trauma Symptom Checklist - 40, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The hypotheses of the study included 1) perception of duration and disclosure of abuse will have a significant correlation with survivor’s current self-esteem, 2) perception of duration and disclosure of abuse will have a significant correlation with survivor’s level of trauma, and 3) perception of duration and disclosure of abuse will have a significant correlation with survivor’s interpersonal capabilities. Duration of abuse and disclosure were not found to have an association with an adult survivor’s 1) sense of self-esteem, 2) level of trauma, 3) or interpersonal capabilities. However, the study did find an association between an adult survivor’s 1) self-esteem and level of trauma, 2) level of trauma and personal distress, and 3) personal distress and self-esteem. Implications of such findings are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling Psychology & Community Services

Year

2002

Author dc:creator

• Rudolph, Susan E.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.und.edu/theses/1038

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.und.edu:theses-2040