| The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Taiwanese women who had been sexually abused as children in order to broaden our understanding of the post-abuse recovery process in a Chinese sociocultural context. The current investigation was conducted from a feminist perspective, and the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method (Hill, Thompson and Williams, 1997) was used to collect, analyze, and present the data. The phenomenon of interest was examined through in-depth interviews with 10 female CSA survivors in Taiwan ranging in age from 20 to 39.; The Transactional and Ecological Model (TEM) of CSA Recovery was developed from the data to explicate or elucidate the overall pattern of the phenomena under study. To illustrate each component of the TEM model, specific domains and categories were enumerated along with core ideas and quotes from the interviews. The TEM model describes the dynamic interplay among intrapersonal (e.g., problem appraisal, coping strategies), interpersonal, and environmental factors and the association of these factors with the psychosocial adjustment process and outcomes of CSA survivors. Overall findings demonstrated that the survivors' appraisal of their CSA experiences was related to the specific sociocultural context of Taiwan (e.g., emphasis on the value of virginity and chastity). Results also suggested the presence of universal and culture-specific dimensions of coping, along with universal and culture-specific sequelae of CSA. The CSA survivors reported using various strategies to cope with CSA events: constructive coping strategies with effective long-term outcomes, avoidance/distraction coping strategies with short-term relief but ineffective long-term outcomes, destructive coping strategies with ineffective short-term and long-term outcomes, and help-seeking coping strategies with either effective or ineffective outcomes.; The findings of this study not only contribute to the programmatic research on CSA recovery, trauma, and coping theories, but also increase our understanding of CSA phenomena in a collectivistic sociocultural context. The results may be used (a) to empower CSA survivors to cope with their traumatic experiences, (b) to deconstruct related cultural myths, and (c) to help researchers and practitioners develop and further implement culturally-appropriate interventions and prevention strategies. |
