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Personal resurrection: female childhood sexual abuse survivors’ experience of the Wellness‐Program
Author(s) -
Sigurdardottir Sigrun,
Halldorsdottir Sigridur,
Bender Soley S.,
Agnarsdottir Guðrun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12238
Subject(s) - feeling , qualitative research , sexual abuse , psychology , rehabilitation , interpretative phenomenological analysis , mental health , medicine , clinical psychology , nursing , suicide prevention , poison control , psychiatry , social psychology , physical therapy , social science , environmental health , sociology
Background Childhood sexual abuse ( CSA ) survivors deal with complex mental, physical and relationship problems in adulthood which negatively affects their well‐being and health. The aim of the present paper was to present a description of the Wellness‐Program for female CSA survivors, the participating women's evaluation of the different therapies in the program as well as a qualitative study on their experience of the program's effects on their life, health and well‐being. Method The Wellness‐Program lasted for 10 weeks with organised schedule 20 hours per week. A team of health professionals used a holistic approach and provided traditional and complementary individual and group therapy focusing on both mind and body. In‐depth phenomenological interviews with ten women, 22–53 years old, were conducted 1 week before and 1 week after the program as well as 15 months later. Data collection and data analysis were guided by the Vancouver School of doing phenomenology. Results Prior to participating in the program, the women were unable to work or attend school, were on disability allowance, were socially isolated and had complex health problems. After the Wellness‐Program, all the women, except one, were back to work, school or in further rehabilitation. Furthermore, the in‐depth interviews showed that their health and well‐being, personal life and relationship with partners, family and friends improved. They felt empowered, more in control and had developed increased trust towards others. Six themes were constructed from the in‐depth interviews. They were: feeling totally lost, releasing experiences, developing trusting relationships, gaining control, experiencing positive changes in physical and mental health and, finally, feeling of empowerment. The overriding theme of the study was personal resurrection . Conclusions The Wellness‐Program contributed considerably to improved health and well‐being of the women. However, further assessment of the program is recommended before making it available within the healthcare system.