Storying Childhood Sexual Abuse

Bibliographic Data

ID4699360
AuthorsClaire Burke Draucker (Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA), Claire Draucker (0000-0001-9844-351X, Kent State University), Donna S Martsolf (Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA)
Year2008
Volume18
Issue8
Pages1034-1048
Publication date2008-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732308319925
PMID18650560
OpenAlexW2136786765
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited38

A theoretical framework that explains how survivors of childhood sexual abuse tell others about their abuse experiences is presented. Data are drawn from open-ended interviews conducted with 74 individuals who experienced ongoing childhood sexual abuse by a family member or close acquaintance. Grounded theory methods were used to develop the framework. The psychosocial problem shared by the participants is that childhood sexual abuse both demands and defies explanation. The core psychosocial process used in response to this problem is storying childhood sexual abuse. The framework includes five processes, and the stories associated with each process vary in their nature and function. The processes and associated stories are (a) starting the story: the story-not-yet-told, (b) coming out with the story: the story-first-told, (c) shielding the story: the story-as-secret, (d) revising the story: the story-as-account, and (e) sharing the story: the story-as-message. Clinical applications of the framework are discussed

Child abuse · Childhood abuse · Developmental psychology · Grounded theory · Poison control · Psychosocial · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sexual abuse · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work Education and Practice

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