Coping with sexuality following adult sexual violence: A qualitative interview study of adult survivors’ experiences.
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Coping with sexuality following adult sexual violence: A qualitative interview study of adult survivors' experiencesStudies have shown that experiencing adult sexual violence affects female and male survivors' sexuality in multiple ways, including leading to decreased sexual satisfaction, increased sexual dysfunction, changes in sexual frequency, and increased sexual risk behavior.The available evidence, however, fails to capture how female and male survivors learn to manage these challenges, and even experience empowerment.Therefore, the aim of the current study is to utilize qualitative interview data to shed light on survivors' post-assault sexuality experiences.A sample of four male and ten female adult sexual violence survivors completed a semi-structured interview about the psychosocial impact of sexual violence on their lives.A reflexive thematic analysis revealed that coping with post-assault challenges in sexuality was characterized by a process of becoming aware of their own sexual needs and trying to communicate these to their partners.This was demonstrated to be an ongoing and non-linear process.Respondents explained how they alternately and simultaneously utilized different approaches to understand their needs with some survivors' experiences reflecting eventual empowerment with regards to their sexuality.The current study illustrates the importance of assessing survivors' sexual experiences following an assault and supporting them in managing the sexual challenges they are faced with in an adaptive way that could facilitate future sexual empowerment.
DOI: 10.1037/trm0000521
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4402641715