In their own voices: women who were sexually abused by members of the clergy

J Child Sex Abus. 2008;17(3-4):216-37. doi: 10.1080/10538710802329684.

Abstract

Women remain perhaps the forgotten majority of persons to survive clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse. The impact of this abuse of women has been largely overlooked. Through a qualitative exploration of narratives from semistructured interviews of 25 women sexually abused by clergy (18 as adults and 7 as children), this study examined how the women experienced symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Consideration is given to clergy-specific factors related to CPSA. Other considerations included intensified captivity experiences for many and extreme isolation related to nonexistent "contexts" for validation and support. A change in personal spirituality among many subjects from structured traditional religious practice to spirituality strongly dependent on interpersonal and relational factors is also considered.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / psychology*
  • Aged
  • Anecdotes as Topic
  • Battered Women / psychology*
  • Catholicism*
  • Clergy*
  • Crime Victims / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Mental Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedophilia / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Truth Disclosure
  • United States