Coping with child sexual abuse and its meanings: Adult female perspectives

This qualitative research explores the process of coping with childhood sexual abuse and the meanings assigned to the abuse by female adult survivors. Using the case study methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with four self-identified abuse survivors on the ways they have coped with their experience of sexual abuse and its perceived consequences from childhood to the present. Adopting a phenomenological/symbolic interactionist perspective, this dissertation rests on the thesis that survivors cope with childhood sexual abuse according to its meaning for them, and that this meaning is socially constructed. Each participant's retrospective account of their coping process is captured in a case study. Based on the case studies, cross-case assertions regarding the conceptualizations of coping as the survivors have perceived and experienced it are made.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Social Work

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Tolentino, Carmina P.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gullerud, Ernest N.

• Social Work
• Women's Studies
• Psychology, Clinical

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1995 Tolentino, Carmina P.

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9543750
(UMI)AAI9543750

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/20402