Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Lived Experience of Iranian Women
Subject Areas :
ghazal sadat pournesaei
1
*
,
Masoume Maleki Pirbazari
2
,
milad sabzeh arai langaroudi
3
1 - Ahrar Institute of Higher Education, Rasht, Iran
2 -
3 - Rahman Ramsar Institute of Higher Education, Ramsar, Iran
Keywords: Lived experience, sexual abuse, intrapersonal consequences, interpersonal and social consequences, psychological reconstruction,
Abstract :
Today, sexual abuse of children is recognized as a major social issue in both Iran and around the world. Sexual abuse is considered one of the most dangerous forms of emotional and psychological child abuse. The aim of this study was to explore the consequences of child sexual abuse based on the lived experiences of Iranian women. This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach. Participants were selected through an Instagram call for volunteers and included Iranian women who reported experiences of sexual abuse. Fourteen individuals were chosen through purposive sampling until data saturation was reached. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. The analysis of participants’ lived experiences revealed that the most significant consequences of childhood sexual abuse fell into six core themes, organized under three broader categories: intrapersonal consequences (self-blame and psychological harm), interpersonal and social consequences (parental neglect and ignorance, stigmatization), and psychological reconstruction (personal growth and forgiveness). This study emphasizes the importance of family and social institutions in protecting children and preventing sexual abuse, particularly among girls.
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